Bus passengers across Assam are upping the ante, demanding a rollback of public transport fares after the Government Thursday reduced petrol and diesel prices by Rs 5/litre. The demand comes in the wake of the Assam Motor Transport Association, the apex body of buses and other public transport vehicles, increasing bus fares by a whooping 40% and the Assam Government giving its green signal to a 30% hike in bus fares.
While fares of long-distance buses were increased from Wednesday (Oct 3), the decision to increase fares of city buses and mini-tempos in Guwahati was kept on hold for 10-odd days although the transport body had announced its decision to hike minimum fares of city buses from Rs 5 to Rs 7 while the minimum fare of mini-tempos and trekkers was hiked from Rs 10 to Rs 15.
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“Fares of buses were hiked due to the increase in prices of petrol and diesel that had skyrocketed in the past few weeks. But now that the government has slashed fuel prices, that too by Rs 5/litre, bus fares should also be reduced. The Government must ask bus owners to slash fares,” Noyona Das, who uses city buses in Guwahati as her prime means of communication, told News Live.
People in other parts of the State also demanded a rollback in bus fares.
“They were quick to hike fares. But now that the government has slashed prices of petrol and diesel, bus fares that were hiked manifold should also come down. The Government should force bus owners to decrease fares now,” Ramen Baruah, a resident of Jorhat, said.
