Get ready to shell out more while travelling by private buses in Punjab. For, the Punjab Government has decided to hike the fare for private buses.
The bus fare will go up by eight paise per kilometre in Punjab. The decision was taken after sympathetically considering the demand of private bus operators, said the State Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar after presiding over a high-level meeting of the department.
Kohar said that the fare has now increased to 91 paise from the present 83 paise per kilometre. “The action has been taken in view of decisions taken in the Cabinet meeting,” he added.
Interestingly, Badal clan and its associates have chains of private transport companies in Punjab and with the hike in the fare would benefit Badal family the most.
It has been learnt that the State Government has decided to hike fare after various private transporters had demanded the same due to sky touching prices of diesel.
As per rates of public (Government transport) after five per cent increase in fares on August 8, 2013, passenger travelling by ordinary buses had to pay 83 paise per km, while those traveling by AC buses had to pay 99.60 paise per km.
Those using integral coach for travel were paying Rs 1.49 per km, while the fare for super deluxe buses was Rs 1.66 per km. On August 8, 2013, State Government had hiked bus fares by four paise per km.