Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 5: The private operator of JNNURM city buses, Dream Team Shahara (DTS), has buckled under the pressure of consistent fall in diesel prices and decided to cut fares.
The private operator Thursday submitted a proposal to the housing and urban development (H&UD) department in this regard but has not revealed the details of the proposal. It, however, informed that the final fares would be disclosed Monday and would be effective February 10.
A reduction in fares would directly benefit around 55,000 passengers travelling on the city buses.
The bus operator had earlier revised fares September 26, 2014, when a litre of diesel was being sold at Rs 63. Since September 26 last year, diesel prices have gone down by around Rs 12, taking the current cost to Rs 50.68 per litre.
Despite a sharp cut in diesel prices in the last six months, DTS kept claiming that it was incurring heavy operational losses.
A fleet of more than 150 city buses (Including 12 air-conditioned ones) are plying on 20 routes in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Jatni, Khurda and surrounding areas. A special rebate of 10 per cent was offered by DTS December 25, 2014. However, this was valid only for smart card users.
