Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Chennithala flays fare hike

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala has said that the rise in prises of diesel and spare parts for stage carriers could not justify the steep increase in bus charge announced by the State government.

In a statement here on Saturday, he said that neighbouring Tamil Nadu had not increased the bus charge for many years. While the minimum bus charge was Rs.2 in that State, it was Rs.4 now in Kerala.

In Tamil Nadu, a commuter could travel six kilometre in ordinary bus paying Rs.2, while he could travel only 2.5 kilometre paying double the amount in Kerala.

The per km ordinary bus charge in Tamil Nadu was 28 paise, that in Andhra Pradesh 38 paise and that in Kerala 48 paise.

“There is no justification for this daylight robbery of the Left Democratic Front government,” Mr. Ramesh said.

He said such increases in bus charge would force the commuters to stop using the services of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). They would turn to trains that charge far less. It would destroy the KSRTC, he said. .

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Five-day workshop on electron microscopy
Chennithala flays fare hike
Directive on Plus One
Baby criticised
Resolution flouts law, says Aryadan
Trial allotment published
Youth Congress leaders end fast
Water authority survey to identify encroachments nearing completion
Rise in railway division earnings
Tourism Department’s initiative
Applications invited
Three arrested on murder charge
Gang leader’s arrest helps crack burglary cases
Marriage of minds... and culture
British Council to introduce ‘Project English’ in schools
Monsoon continues to elude State
Thiruvananthapuram today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu