Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 12: The state government Thursday reduced fares on private and government buses for the second time in eight days following a reduction in the price of diesel by Rs 2.49 per litre February 4.
Thursday’s fare cut is also the fifth since October 29, 2014.
The fares have been slashed by 2 paise per km for different categories of private and state-run buses Thursday. The government had earlier cut the fares by 1 paise per km February 4.
Commerce and transport minister Ramesh Majhi announced the fare cut in the Legislative Assembly Thursday, saying the technical committee arrived at a consensus to bring down fares by 2 paise per km.
The fares for ordinary buses came down to 57 paise per km, while for express buses it is 60 paise, according to the transport department.
For air-conditioned buses, commuters have to pay 80 paise per km, while for the AC deluxe service they would have to pay 99 paise. The minister said these fares would be applicable with immediate effect.
Passengers had fumed when the fares were reduced by only 1 paise per km. However, this time many commuters praised the government for keeping the fares in tandem with the reduction in diesel prices.
However, the secretary of the All Orissa Private Bus Owners’ Association, Debendra Sahoo, came down heavily on the government for not opting for the automatic fare revision formula. Sahoo expressed fears that if diesel prices would go up, the technical committee would delay the fares hike.
The fare had gone up between 5 and 8 paise per km for all types of buses for the last time August 19, 2014, when a litre of diesel was being sold at Rs 62.28. Currently, diesel is being sold at Rs 50.68.
