Private bus fares up, operators not happy

BHUBANESWAR: Under pressure from the private bus operators threatening to go on an indefinite strike, the State Government on Monday hiked the bus fares across the board in view of the recent rise in fuel prices. But the private bus operators said the hike is not up to what they had sought.Fare in ordinary buses went up by four paise, express category buses by five paise, de luxe buses by six paise and AC de luxe by eight paise per km. The overall increase is calculated at 10.23 per cent which the Government said has been fixed keeping in view the paying power of the people.The revised fare slabs now stand at 50 paise (ordinary), 53 paise (express), 70 paise (de luxe) and 85 paise (AC de luxe) per km.After the State Government announced the fare hike, the bus operators withdrew the proposed strike from Tuesday. “In view of the steep hike in fuel (diesel) prices, there was no alternative but to increase the bus fare,” Commerce and Transport Minister Sanjib Sahoo told mediapersons.Interestingly, although the Government hiked the bus fare, the private bus operators did not exactly accept the raise saying it was short of what they had demanded. The Technical Committee of the State Government, which takes a call on bus fares, had recommended a 13.09 per cent hike. The panel had suggested a hike of 6.08 paise (ordinary), 6.28 paise (express), 8.38 paise (de luxe) and 10.08 paise (AC-de luxe) but the Government curtailed the rates.The All-Orissa Private Bus Owners’ Association, the umbrella body of the operators, did not fully accept the revised fare. It had demanded a hike of 7 paise (ordinary and express), 10 paise (de luxe) and 12 paise (AC-de luxe).“We had sought a fare hike in the range of 15 per cent and the Government could have stuck to the technical committee’s recommendations in this regard. Although we will not agitate keeping in view  inconvenience to passengers, the 10.23 per cent hike will not meet the additional expenditure caused by increased fuel and spare parts prices,” president Prakash Mishra said.However, the hike will not be applicable to the State carriers or town buses. The Minister said there are different parameters for calculating fare for town buses.