Bus fare hike criticised; YC, SUCI plan protest

Terming the hike as an “anti-people policy” of the BJP, Tapan Dasgupta of SUCI alleged the BJP was no different from Congress and other political parties. Also, the government’s claim that the hike was about 25 per cent was misleading, as in some slabs it actually went beyond 40 per cent, he added.

Criticising the hike in diesel rates, the Inqualibi Communist Sangathan has stated that such announcements would lead to serious problems for workers. Dr Maya Valecha, Ramkailash Saroj and Rohit Parajapati of the Sangathan said it was strange that on one hand, these prices have gone up, while on the other the daily wages of labourers have been reduced. They have demanded an explanation from the State Labour and Employment Minister.

Resistance to the hike was not restricted to politicians alone. “I think that the fare hike is unjustified. After all the public transport system is meant for the general public, and Gujarat State Road Transport (GSRTC) buses are most used by people who cannot afford expensive travel. It will be an unbearable burden on this segment of the passengers. The government should roll back the fare hike,” said commerce student, Jatin Raval.

Saroj Dave, wife of a senior Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) officer, expressed her shock over the hike and said that it would probably hit the government department – GSRTC – like never before.

The poorly-maintained SRT buses were already being rejected by common people, who would now be compelled to take the private ones thus ultimately damaging the GSRTC, she said.

Raj Bhavsar, a local businessman from Raopura, says such a hike was not expected from the government as the people of Gujarat actually sought relief from it. The hike, according to him, would certainly discourage the ordinary people’s preference to take SRTC buses now. Intellectuals from all over the State ought to press upon the government to review its decision, specially at a juncture when prices of all the essential commodities including diesel are rising, he added.

Chetan Desai, union leader of the GSRTC, however, said that the fare should have been hiked a long time ago. “If the price of diesel has been hiked, then why not the fare,” said Desai.

He added that the hike in the fare was really not very high, and travellers should realise that they would not be paying much. He added that if passengers had to avail a comfortable journey they would have to pay a price for it. “We definitely support the hike so that the conditions of the state transport could be improved,” said Desai.

“The government had no option but to hike the prices in view of the hike in diesel prices. The services provided by the GSRTC are highly subsidised, and with the diesel price it would have been difficult for the corporation to continue its service. I think it a rational hike,” said city-based businessman, Hasmukh Shah.