the goan I network
PANAJI
The Transport Department on Wednesday approved a hike in bus fares by around 15 to 17 percent over the existing structure.
The private bus owners however are unhappy with the quantum of hike and have decided to oppose it.
According to the new rates bus fares for the initial four kilometres will be Rs 10 instead of the current Rs eight. Sources said the new rates and distance slabs are expected to be notified on Thursday.
These rates will be applicable to private buses and also the bus services run by the State-owned Kadamba Transport Corporation.
Goa private bus owner’s associations leader Sudip Tamhankar however said that the hike approved by the government is not as per the discussions held in State Transport Authority meeting.
“I don’t know how the notification contains the rate which is not discussed in STA meeting. We certainly oppose this price hike”, Tamhankar said.
“We want Rs 10 hike for first 1-3 kilometres slab not 1-4 kilometres. The buses plying on routes with 12, 18, 28 and 29 kilometres distance will not get much benefit with the current fare hike,” Tamhankar said.
Giving the example of the 12-kilometre Panaji-Mapusa route, Tamhankar said the current bus fare is Rs 14 but with the new rates it will go up to only Rs 15. Also buses plying on Mapusa to Calangute, and the Mapusa to Ponda routes will not get much benefit, he added.
Tamhankar demanded that the hiked fare structure must be amended to give fair benefit to all bus owners.
The bus owners association has been lobbying for a fare hike citing inflation and rise in fuel and other maintenance costs.
The last time bus fares were hiked by the State government was in 2013.
