With the rebate announcement of auto fare for school students and labourers travelling from villages by auto drivers, Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is mulling to convince Tourism Department for reducing the fare of City Buses as well for the same group.
“We will soon request the Tourism Department for reduction in city bus fare for students. This would be an added advantage for the young commuters,” RMC Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Vijaywargiya said on Tuesday.
The State Diesel Auto Drivers Association has expressed their desire to bring a change in the city bus fare for any category of travellers. Founder of the Association Dinesh Soni said, “City Bus ride was introduced by Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation with the concept of no profit-no loss. They should begin rebate for students commuting in city buses as there is hardly any facility available for children in crowded buses. Most of the time they have to stand in whole journey.”
On Monday, the Association members decided to charge two rupees less from students of class one to tenth and for labourers commuting from villages.
Besides, the decision the association members have passed a proposal of holding a meeting with Chief Secretary Sudhir Prasad on August 25 regarding the problems of the drivers. They are looking for auto-stand facilities in four prominent junctions of the city. The decision of auto-fare rebate was implemented from Tuesday. It brought a ‘sigh of relief’ for students. “Everyday my father gives me a pocket money of Rs 50. I have to spend accordingly. It is good that the auto-fare has been reduced. I can now save some money for the other day,” Abhigyan Thakur, a class ninth student of Tender Heart School said.
Mayor Asha lakra too welcomed auto driver’s recent initiative. However, she maintained that she was unaware of any plan of the municipal body to talk to the Tourism Department regarding fare reduction. “In case, there is any plan of talking to the Tourist Department for concession in City Bus fare, we will make it public,” she said.