Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to increase the bus fares by 30 per cent while the minimum fare for local buses would go up from Rs 2 to Rs 5 from October 1.
Transport Minister GS Bali said the revised fares would come into force from October 1 and a notification in this regard would be issued immediately. The Cabinet had already approved the bus fare hike in its last meeting but no announcement was made in this regard. The private bus operators had been demanding a hike in bus fares and went on a day’s strike to press their demand.
While the revised fares would reduce the operational losses of private operators to a great extent, the revenue of Himachal Road Transport Corporation(HRTC) is estimated to go up by Rs 50 crore annually.
The HRTC is incurring losses to the tune of Rs 80 crore annually while its accumulated losses stood at Rs 600 crore due to increase in prices of diesel, spare parts and salaries of employees. Himachal’s Opposition BJP criticised the bus fare hike and said it was totally unjustified and uncalled for at a time when the people are already reeling under rising prices due to “wrong” policies of UPA Government. State BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti and party spokesperson, Genesh Dutt said only a few days ago, the Government had announced that there was no immediate move to hike the prices.
They said 30 per cent hike in bus fares and increasing the minimum fare of local buses from Rs 2 to Rs 5, was a “cruel joke” with the people and would further add to the inflation.