Chandigarh, June 29
The Punjab Government is all
set to marginally hike bus fares in the state. A high-powered committee of the government today decided on a hike in bus fares, however, it will have to be formally approved by the Punjab Council of Ministers. Sources said the increased cost of diesel had forced the hike.
The committee has suggested that bus fare in the state be increased to 49 paise per km. This is an increase of 3 paise per km from the earlier rate of 46 paise per km. The demand of the Transport department and private transporters was to hike the rate by 8 paise per km.
The high-powered committee comprising Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, and three ministers, Mr Lal Singh, Mr Avtar Henry and Mr Mohinder Singh Kaypee met today and agreed to a hike of 3 paise per km.
Meanwhile, the committee has also decided that the special road tax be reduced from Rs 2.69 per km to Rs 2.60 per km. The
transporters pay this to the state government.
It may be mentioned that the Punjab Motor Union which operates private buses in the state had threatened to go on strike if the government did not hike fares. Mr Jagdish Sahni of the Punjab Motor Union said a meeting of the union has been convened for July 1 to discuss the hike in fares and decide the further course of action.
It is pertinent to point out that neighbouring states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have so
far refrained from hiking bus fares in their states.
