20% bus fare hike from 1 Apr @ Rs 8/-
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 26 March 2013 17:49 IST
The bus fare would be finally hiked by 20 per cent from 1 April, with Rs 8 for the first four kms against the existing fare of Rs 5 for the first three kms.
Transport director Arun Desai today declared that the minimum fare however would never go beyond 30 per cent of the existing bus fare.
It would mean the distance of Panaji to Bambolim would cost Rs 6 and not Rs 8.
No hike however has been proposed for taxis or auto rickshaws.
NEW BUS FARE HIKE
|
EXISTING |
|
NEW |
|
|
0 – 3 Kms |
Rs 5/- |
0 – 3.9 Kms |
Rs 8/- |
|
4 – 9 Kms |
Rs 0.75 |
4 – 9.9 Kms |
Rs 0.80 |
|
10 Kms onwards |
Rs 0.60 |
10 Kms onwards |
Rs 0.65 |
It would mean, said Desai, that Panaji to Old would now cost Rs 12, a rise of Rs 2 while Cortalim from Panaji would cost Rs 16, a rise of Rs 3.
Similarly, Panaji to Margao would cost Rs 4 more, at Rs 26 now.
Panaji to Ponda or Sankhli would cost Rs 24, a rise of Rs 3
The Directorate of Transport would send the notification in this regard for publication on 28 March, expecting it to be published in the gazette by 1 April.
“The bus hike would be applicable as soon as it is published in the official gazette”, said transport director Desai.
The transport directorate is also in the process of taking a major decision to give subsidy to the private bus operators, provided they extended similar concession like the KTC to the passengers.
While 50 per cent bus concession is still compulsory, Desai said they will have to agree to charge concessional fare to the senior citizens and freedom fighters and also the monthly pass system like the KTC.
“We have agreed even to their other demands in principle but the final call would be taken by the government within two months”, said Desai.
These include electronic ticketing machines on monthly installments, insurance to bus drivers with 50 per cent premium coming from the government and also subsidy for tyres, based on the mileage.
Desai also disclosed that he intends to introduce digital meters for rickshaws and taxis as the experiment has been successfully implemented in Mumbai and Hubli.
Meanwhile, they would be given fare tables on point-to-point basis rates specified in it, he added.
