EDITORIAL OPIATE TATHAGATA SATPATHY
The Orissa government’s move to implement the automatic bus fare revision mechanism is an ill-conceived one. The state government, which also hiked bus fares as part of implementation of the new module, said the decision has been taken in view of the frequent rise and fall of fuel prices. As if bus fares have ever come down due to decrease in fuel prices!
The government has given in to pressure from the Orissa Private Bus Owners’ Association, which has for long been demanding that a system be put in place for bus fares to rise and fall in sync with the fluctuations in prices of fuel.
A similar kind of linking had been put in place by the Centre when, in 2010, it tied domestic fuel prices to the global prices of crude. However, the changes in domestic fuel prices have not always matched the fluctuations in the global crude prices, particularly since April 2006. In January 2007, there was a sharp 21.35 per cent decline in crude oil prices, using the April 2002 prices of crude oil and fuels as the base price. However, this drop in global crude prices was accompanied only by a slight fall of less than 10 per cent in the domestic prices of fuel, according to data available with the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell. The linking of bus fares with fluctuations in fuel prices is likely to see a similar mismatch.
The state government has said in its notification that fares in ordinary and express buses will be hiked by 1 paisa per km when diesel prices rise by Rs 2 per litre. Fares in a/c deluxe buses will go up by 2 paise per km for a similar increase in fuel prices. Bus fares will be revised downwards at the same rate, the government has said. However, fuel is not the only cost that bus owners incur. The operators have to pay salaries to the drivers and other staff. There is cost involved for the maintenance of the bus and also taxes to be paid.
The government, by implementing the automatic fare revision system, has also distanced itself from the regulation of fares of private buses in future. The public transport system in the state is not robust, unlike that of the neighbouring states, and most of the buses in the state are run by private operators. In this backdrop, the absence of government regulation can only adversely affect the commuters.
This assumes significance as the private bus owners have steadfastly opposed modern measures such as installation of GPS systems on their buses, as mandated by a notification issued in the end of April by the state transport department. This opposition is perplexing as the GPS system can only help all concerned and even let the bus owner know the location of their vehicle at any point of time. Other security systems such as CCTV and public display of the driver’s licence with photo could have been made mandatory while agreeing to increase fare.
The government has, unfortunately, not linked the hike in fares to any improvement in services. By succumbing to the demands or pressure from groups like this bus owners association, the government is giving out a message that any well-organized band of people with brute strength can get away with virtually anything that they desire.
This leaves the ordinary citizen helpless and unprotected.