Bus fare may cost Rs 3 more
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 26 March 2013 09:54 IST
The bus fare hike is coming. It may be effective from today itself, once the notification is out. The hike is expected to be at least Rs three more per kilometer.
Transport minister Sudin Dhawalikar had yesterday announced in the Assembly that the government has agreed to the demand of the newly formed bus owners’ organization to hike the bus fare.
The notification in this regard was to be announced yesterday itself with a detailed chart. But transport director cancelled the press conference last minute, for reasons unknown till now.
The issue was raised by MGP’s own Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar during Zero Hour to his own party leader and transport minister Dhawalikar.
Mamledar was pressing to meet demands of the newly formed bus owners’ organization, claiming that the original organization (run by Congress spokesperson Sudip Tamankar) is a political organization.
The earlier hike was in November 2011, at the rate of Rs 5 for the first three kms, 75 paise per kms for the next nine kms and 65 paise per km from 10 kms onwards.
The new bus fare structure would be known only after the notification is out, probably today.
In addition, Dhawalikar said he also plans to provide electronic ticketing machines to the private bus operators on installment basis.
The insurance scheme for the drivers is also the anvil, he said, with half of its burden shared by the government.
The government also has plans to give subsidy for losses on account of reduction of number of passengers, said Dhawalikar.
The recent budget had hit the private bus operators badly since the passenger tax has been hiked from 30 to 50 per cent, green tax on 15-year old buses and a transfer fee while buying second hand buses.
Tamankar’s organization had then threatened to go on indefinite hunger strike if the tax structures are not rolled back.
