Jagathamma was in for a rude shock when the conductor of the Kerala State Road Transport bus in which she was travelling to the city asked her to pay more than the regular fare. Not aware of the hike in fare, as on any other day she boarded the bus from Enikkara to Kowdiar, where she works as a maid.
“On Tuesday, as usual I paid Rs.7 for the ticket but the conductor in return issued a ticket for Rs.9. He said the fare was increased. I was taken aback,” she said. So was the case of several other commuters, who depend on public transport to reach their work place. The hike has increased the burden, particularly of daily wage workers who come to various parts of the city from neighbourhood and remote villages.
“Even a one rupee hike will alter the monthly expenditure. The present hike will increase my travel expenditure by at least Rs.100 to travel to the work place and back home,” she said.
Burden on commonersStatistics available with Transport Department shows that on an average more than three lakh people depend on KSRTC buses and another 80,000 on private buses to commute in the city. “It is a burden on the common man who depends on public transport,” said Rakesh, who works in a shop at Palayam.
The government should have increased the fare in the air-conditioned buses plying in the city, which was mostly used by people who can afford to pay more, he added.
“Only the fares keep on increasing, but there is no maintenance or betterment of services on their part, be it private or the State transport buses. Last time the fare was increased, the concession fare also increased. I am apprehensive whether they will do it this time too,” Saddam Hussein, student.
Geetha who runs a tea stall along with her husband near Vanchiyoor said the additional expense of Rs.6 every day would amount to a huge burden on her family’s meagre earnings. She lives in Chempazhanty and on her way to work, she had to shell out Rs.14, instead of Rs.11. The ‘Ananthapuri’, which she took on the way back, she feared, would charge Rs.16. “Most of our income goes into paying rent. I don’t know how we’ll manage our budget with this hike in bus fares. It has to be brought down,” she said.
Remani works at East Fort and lives near Kannamoola. “I’m now trying to find alternative routes, since I have to now pay Rs.9 one way, from Rs.7 (which amounts to Rs.4 daily). Every rupee matters now considering the rate at which the cost of essential commodities such as oil and vegetables are rising. I thought the cost of bus travel will remain within our reach. Now even that’s changing.”
