Putting the commuters in hardship during the ensuing Durga Puja, the State Government on Saturday hiked the bus fares by eight per cent with immediate effect conceding to the demand of the private bus operators in view of the increase in fuel price.
The increase ranged from four to seven paise per km, as per a Transport Department notification. “We had no alternative but to increase the fare due to constant increases in the prices of diesel.” said Transport and Commerce Minister Subrat Tarai.
While the fares for ordinary and express buses were hiked by four paise per km each that of deluxe buses was hiked by six paise. For AC. deluxe buses, there has been an increase of seven paise.
Now, fares for ordinary buses will be 59 paise, express buses 62 paise, deluxe buses 82 paise and AC deluxe buses Rs 1. The last hike was on November 1, 2012.
However, the Government did not consider the bus owners’ demand for a mechanism for automatic rise and reduction of fares taking into consideration the rise and fall hike in fuel prices.