Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, June 4: The state government Thursday effected a major hike in bus fares. It also announced introduction of an automatic mechanism to fix the bus fare in future, which was a long-standing demand of private bus operators seeking regulation of bus fares in view of the frequent fluctuations in fuel prices.
Announcing the decisions, transport minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi said, “Hikes for ordinary buses and express buses have been made by four paise per kilometre whereas the hike for deluxe buses and AC deluxe buses would be of six paise and eight paise respectively.”
The increased fares will be effective with immediate effect, the minister said.
According to a notification issued by the commerce and transport department, the fare for ordinary buses will be raised from 57paise to 61paise per km, express buses from 60paise to 64paise, deluxe buses from 80paise to 86paise and AC deluxe buses from 99paise to Rs 1.07 per km.
About the automatic mechanism, the minister said, “As per the notification, the fare for ordinary and express buses per km would be hiked by one paisa if the price of diesel is hiked by `2 per litre, while the fare of these buses will be reduced by one paisa if the price of diesel is reduced by `2 per litre.”
“Fare for deluxe and AC deluxe buses per km would be hiked by two paise if the price of diesel is increased by Rs 2 per litre while the fare of these buses would be reduced by two paise if the price of diesel is reduced by Rs 2 per litre.”
The new mechanism will be at work from the next fluctuation in the diesel price.
The Orissa private bus owners’ association welcomed the state government’s decision. “The move will certainly help regulate the bus fare in proper ways,” association general secretary Debendra Sahu said.