The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Fares of Suvarna, Vajra bus services slashed

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Sunday, Feb 01, 2009
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Karnataka - Bangalore

Fares of Suvarna, Vajra bus services slashed

Special Correspondent

No change in fares of Vayu Vajra airport services

BANGALORE: Passing on the benefits of reduction in the diesel price to commuters, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has decided to reduce fares of Suvarna and Vajra (Volvo) bus services by 20 and 17 per cent, respectively.

The reduced bus fares will come into effect from February 5.

Minister for Transport R. Ashok told presspersons here on Saturday that the fares of Suvarna bus services had been reduced by 20 per cent, equal to those of Pushpak.

Puspak

As a result, Pushpak monthly commuter passes would be valid for Suvarna bus services also, the Minister said.

The day pass for city, suburban and Pushpak services would now be valid for Survarna services also, he said.

Average reduction

An average reduction in bus fare is about 3.5 per cent, while the overall fare reduction in the premium category is about 18 per cent. The fares of Vayu Vajra (Volvo) airport services had not been reduced, he said.

The minimum bus fare of Vajra (Volvo) services had been reduced from Rs. 10 to Rs. 5. Pushpak fare had been reduced for certain stages by about 8 per cent.

City and sub-urban bus fares had also been reduced for certain stages by about 8 per cent.

On the decline in the number of ordinary buses in the city, the Minister said there were 4,508 such buses.

As many as 139 Pushpak, 334 Suvarna, including airport services, and 239 Vajra and Vayu Vajra buses were operating in the city, the Minister said.

As many as 113 additional buses were operating in the city, he said.

For the first stage, the Suvarna bus fare has been reduced from Rs. 5 to Rs. 4 and for Vajra from Rs. 10 to Rs. 5. The Suvarna fare for last stage has been reduced from Rs. 20 to Rs. 16 and for Vajra from Rs. 60 to Rs. 45.

The Minister said that he had asked the Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Urban District to hold a meeting with unions of autorickshaw drivers to reduce fares in the city.

Nearly 25 per cent of autorickshaws were run on petrol. The Union Government had reduced the petrol price by Rs. 5 a litre.

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