The issue of bus fare reduction, being demanded by many organisations following steep reduction in diesel price, is unlikely to figure in the meeting of Regional Transport Authority (RTA) convened here on Thursday.
Various political parties and organisations have been demanding a reduction in the fare as the diesel price had gone down by about Rs. 6. However, private bus operators as well as the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) are not keen in reducing the fares.
The operators argue that the diesel price is now linked to market prices and is bound to fluctuate periodically. They also contend that cost of other inputs including spare parts have increased substantially.
RTA Member-Secretary and Mangaluru Regional Transport Officer Afzal Ahmed Khan told The Hindu that the authority had received a few representations seeking reduction in bus fares. The issue, however, was not on the agenda of the meeting and its discussion would depend upon the deliberations during the meeting.
Social activist G. Hanumanth Kamath said the RTA needed to look into the issue. Whenever there was an increase in the diesel price, the authority allowed a hike in fares. The same analogy should apply when there was a reversal, he said.
If the RTA did not concede to the demands of the public for fare reduction, people would believe that the authority was in favour of bus operators, he said. Mr. Kamath said, on the same lines, autorickshaw fares too should be reduced by the RTA as petrol price too had come down.
The RTA is scheduled to meet at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, who is also its Chairman.
