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Private bus owners seek hike in fares

BHUBANESWAR: Close on the heels of hike in prices of diesel, State Private Bus Owners’ Association (SPBOA) on Thursday urged State government to convene a meeting of High Level Technical Committee for considering increase in bus fares.

A delegation of SPBOA, led by its president Prakash Mishra and general secretary Debendra Sahoo, submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Transport Minister Sanjeev Sahoo, transport secretary and transport commissioner. “During past few months bus operators had to bear additional expenses due to rise in prices of many ancillary products. Now with the rise in fuel price, bus fares need a revision,” SPBOA spokesperson Debasish Nayak said.

He said the committee should review prices on 13 major indicators, which included expenses on maintenance, price of chassis and other body parts. “In the last two price revision decisions, private bus operators had to reduce one paise per km of bus fare in ordinary bus category. The two reductions took place in December last year and February this year,” Mr. Nayak pointed out.

Moreover, the SPBOA was opposed to proposed collection of toll charges at Srirampur on the National Highway 5 (A) between Chandikhole to Paradip. “If toll collection is started from July 4, every bus has to pay Rs. 281 per day while passing through the stretch. Since we are in the business of providing passenger service, we should be exempted from toll charge,” the SPBOA spokesperson said.

Chief Minister should intervene in the matter, the association demanded.

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