Kolkata, Sep 14 (PTI) Asserting that a hike in private bus fares in the state was long overdue, West Bengal Transport Minister Arjun Singh on Monday said the government would consider such an increase after Durga Puja.
During a meeting with the associations of private bus operators, Singh stressed the improvement in passenger amenities.
“I think the bus fare hike is long overdue. We will take a decision after Durga Puja. Once hiked, the operators should offer improved amenities to commuters. We need better managed buses on roads, including those having AC services,” Singh said.
The minister, along with senior officials, met representatives of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, City Suburban Service, and West Bengal Bus and MiniBus Owners’ Association at the Maidan Tent of the transport department.
Singh also said the state transport undertakings, which are incurring heavy losses, should have increased fares earlier.
West Bengal Bus and Minibus Owners’ Association representative P N Bose said several issues such as imposing fines on buses and disparity in road toll fares here and in other parts of the country were discussed during the meeting.
He said the minister promised to address all these issues.
A one-time relief package for bus operators was also discussed, but there was no immediate assurance by the government, he said.
Currently, the state-dictated fare for stage 1 is Rs 7, while the private bus operators charge Rs 10 in a clandestine arrangement.
“A fare revision is the need of the hour. The existing fare structure, unchanged for eight years, is no longer financially viable. We cannot survive on the 2018 fares in 2026. In the first stage at present, we demand Rs 20 to offset the operational losses,” Bose said.
With diesel prices hovering above Rs 100 per litre and maintenance costs steadily increasing, the private bus owners said they can no longer sustain operations under the current fare regime.
“Let the government provide a one-time waiver of pending VAHAN-related penalties,” Bose said.
Many private bus operators are resorting to route rationalisation and unofficial fare adjustments as the industry grapples with higher diesel prices and a decline in passenger volume following free bus travel for women on government buses, he said.
Currently, about 3,500 buses ply on the roads in Kolkata, showing a sharp drop from the 6,000-odd stage carriages in the pre-COVID period. PTI SUS BDC
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