Bus operators propose fare hike,minister disposes

With yet another rise in diesel prices,the bus operators have demanded to raise the fares even as the transport minister negated any such possibility

With yet another rise in diesel prices,the bus operators have demanded to raise the fares even as the transport minister negated any such possibility. Tapan Banerjee,joint secretary of Joint Council of Bus Syndicates has already written to the state with a 12-point demand on behalf of several bus operators.

From October,2012 till July,2013,fuel prices have been hiked nine times,but the bus fares have remained as it is, Tapan Banerjee said.

He said,he has written to the state with the demands,which include a fare hike,curb on police atrocity,restructure of fare in such a fashion that there is minimum requirement of coins,ban on motor-fitted vans,maintenance of roads,arranging for speedy realisation of insurance claims and putting up a regularity committee,which would check fare according to rise and fall in fuel prices.

Banerjee said business had been so bad that of 685 JNNURM buses,about 400 have been taken off road. Asked if they were contemplating strike,he said,On moral grounds we are not. That will be an extreme step and we will resort to it as a last option.

Meanwhile,Transport Minister Madan Mitra,said,the state was in mood to raise the fares. Let them come. We will discuss the matter but as of now,the state has no intention to raise the fare, he said.

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