The Hindu : Front Page : Bus fares to go up from tomorrow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 24, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Bus fares to go up from tomorrow

Special Correspondent

Private bus operators withdraw strike

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government has announced an increase in bus fares with effect from November 25.

In ordinary buses, the minimum bus fare will go up from Rs.2.50 to Rs.3 and the per kilometre charge from 42 paise to 48 paise.

In fast passenger buses, the minimum fare will go up from Rs.3 to Rs.4 and the per kilometre charge from 43 paise to 52 paise. Similar increases are being brought into effect in the case of super fast, express and luxury bus services also.

A decision in this respect was taken after a meeting Transport Minister N. Sakthan had with the representatives of private bus operators here on Wednesday. Following the decision, the bus operators withdrew the strike they had launched on Monday.

Talking to the presspersons, Mr. Sakthan said the increase in fares had become unavoidable because of the steep increase in fuel costs. He said the student concession would continue unchanged.

Besides an increase in the fares, the bus operators had wanted the Government to stop issuing new permits for bus services, since the proliferation of passenger buses on the road was adversely affecting the operational viability of the existing ones. The Minister said the Government had taken note of the problem and would work out a mechanism to solve it.

Bus Operators' Coordination Committee chairman A.K. Abdullah said the business of operating bus services would become viable only if the Government allowed an increase in student fares.

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