Kochi: Private bus owners have demanded an increase in bus fare in the wake of fuel price hike and a dip in collection after demonetisation. “The per km fare should be increased from 64 paise to 70 paise while the mimum fare should be fixed at Rs 9 instead of Rs 7. Likewise the student concession fare should be fixed at Rs 5 instead of Rs 1,” said T. Gopinath, state General Secretary of the All Kerala Bus Operators Organisation. The organisation representatives will meet transport minister A.K. Saseendran on Tuesday and submit the demands. “We’ll be forced to go on strike if the government ignores our plea,” he said.
Lawrence Babu, chairman of Private Bus Operators Confede-ration and a member of the Motor Vehicle Welfare Board, said there is a 40 per cent dip in revenue on an average post demonetisation. “The operation costs have gone up. Insurance alone has seen a hike of 23 per cent from April one last. We’re seeking the fare hike just to survive,” he said. The confederation will decide on future course of action at its steering committee at Kollam on Tuesday.
