The Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has decided to reduce fares of AC Mo Bus up to 38% for next two months and rationalise the fare structure. The new bus fares will come into effect from December 1.

Besides, the cost of monthly passes of the bus had also been reduced. The monthly Bhubaneswar non-AC pass will now cost Rs 550 instead of Rs 600 and Rs 750 instead of Rs 900 for AC buses. Similarly, Magic Pass non-AC and AC will now cost Rs 1,100 and Rs 1,500 instead of Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,800, respectively.

CRUT General Manager Dipti Mahapatro said the minimum AC bus fare would be Rs 5 for first two km which is now Rs 8. At present, the maximum fare of an AC bus trip is Rs 100, which would come down to Rs 70.

“Presently AC bus fares are 60%-140% higher than that of non-AC buses. With revision of the rates, the difference between AC and non-AC bus fares will be only about 30%. The decision to reduce the AC bus fares is taken to give Mo Bus riders a better experience and boost ridership during winters,” she said.

It has also been decided to rationalise the fare structure for both AC and non-AC segments to multiple of Rs 5 to make it convenient for passengers pay for the ticket.

Mahapatro said, “For example, non-AC bus tickets are currently priced at Rs. 5, 8, 10, 13, 15, 17 and so on. In the new fare structure, the fare would be Rs 5, 10, 15, 20 and so on. Rounding off fares to multiples of Rs 5 will also reduce the time taken for cash handling by the bus guides, thus allowing them to issue tickets much faster especially during peak hours.”

While the change in fare structure will result in 41% of non-AC passengers having lower fares, around 9% passengers will experience slight increase of Rs 1 to Rs 2 rupees in the fare. There will be no change in fare for rest 50% of non-AC bus commuters. In case of AC buses, all the commuters will pay reduced fare.