Even as the oil prices continue to fall, the State Government seems not interested to revise the bus fare.
Notably, the diesel price had gone up to Rs7.25 in the last 11 months. The All Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association had demanded a fare hike in August this year, to which the Government responded by increasing it by 5 paise to 8 paise per km.The price of diesel was Rs 55.3 in October last year when the bus fare was increased from 55 paise to 59 paise per km. later on August 19 this year, the fare was hiked again from 59 paise to 64 paise as the diesel price per litre shot up to Rs62.28.
However, diesel prices have come down by Rs 9.17 per litre in four phases (Rs7.95 as per Government records excluding taxes) in the last two months and the price now stands at Rs54.33.While the price is now comparatively much lesser than what it was two years ago (October 2013), the bus fare has been reduced only by 2 paise after several rounds of negotiation.Despite this, the fare remains much higher (62 paise now) than what it used to be in the last two years (55 paise).
Though the Government had brought down the fare by a meagre 1 paisa in two phases, no steps have been taken to revise the fare after the diesel price dropped in two phases.Transport Department sources said the department would have a meeting of its Technical Advisory Committee to decide fare revision within a day or two. Though it is certain that the fare would be reduced, the meeting would decide how much it would be reduced and from when, the sources added.
Bus association general secretary Debendra Sahoo said the bus operators are all for price reduction. But at the same time, the association wants price reduction of tyres, tubes and lubricants. Besides, the fare would be even much less if the insurance premium and bank interest rate are less, he said.
He further added that the Government should also reduce the fares of DTS city buses and auto-rickshaws along with private and Government buses. The association also wants the Government to put in place an automated price regulatory system to monitor the fuel prices accordingly.