Bus fares across all categories were hiked in the State on Thursday under the automatic fare adjustment mechanism after the increase in fuel price.
The fares of ordinary and express buses were hiked by 1 paise per km and that of deluxe and AC deluxe buses by 2 paise per km.
The fare for ordinary buses would now be 69 paise per km as against 68 paise per km and the fare for express buses was increased to 72 paise from 71 paise per km.
Similarly, deluxe category buses would now charge 99 paise per km as against 97 paise earlier and passengers travelling in AC Deluxe buses would have to shell out Rs 1.21 instead of the existing Rs 1.19 paise per km.
In reaction, Samajwadi State president Rabi Behera said that after the increase in fuel prices while no other State has gone for bus fare hike the Odisha Government succumbing to the pressure of the bus owner has hiked bus fares just before the eve of Bahuda Yatra and Suna Besa of Lord Jagannath in Puri.
This bus fare hike is irrational and hence needs to be rolled back, demanded Behera.