Bus fares in Punjab hiked
From Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 13 — Contrary to the statements made and assurance given by the Punjab Transport Minister, Mr Raghbir Singh, the Punjab Government has enhanced the bus fare in the state in a most secret manner.

Official sources said here today that the bus fare had been enhanced from 36 paise per kilometre to 39 paise per kilometre with immediate effect. A notification in this connection was issued yesterday telling the officials concerned to implement the hike in bus fare with immediate effect. The step has been taken in the light of increase in the price of diesel, the main input for running the fleet of buses.

Neither the Punjab Government issued any press statement nor any public statement was made either by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal or any other senior functionary with regard to hike in bus fare. Normally a statement is issued at the State headquarter or public statement is made by the Government when any hike affecting the people in general is made by the Government in bus fares or sales tax etc.

It may be mentioned that Mr Raghbir Singh had made several statements in the past weeks that the State-owned Punjab Roadways and Pepsu Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) would absorb the hike in diesel price and there would be no hike in the bus fares. He had further said that the both Punjab Roadways and the PRTC would take internal steps to improve their financial position.

Following hike in the diesel prices, the PRTC authorities had estimated an increase of Rs 9 crore in the diesel bill annually. Earlier, PRTC's diesel bill per annum was around Rs 22 crore and it was to go up to Rs 31 crore. With the hike in bus fare to the extent of 3 paise per kilometer, the PRTC would be able to cover up Rs 7 crore of increased diesel bill. The remaining Rs 2 crore, PRTC authorities said would be internally absorbed and some part of it was expected to be met following increase in the bus fares in Haryana.

PRTC buses cover a large part of Haryana where authorities are expecting increase in the bus fares shortly. The PRTC, which has 1000 buses in running condition, has cut down its expenditure to the tune of Rs 2 crore in the past two years by taking some internal economy measures.

New schemes launched by the PRTC have also become popular, Its "Bachat card" scheme has received good response. Under this scheme one person can travel to unlimited distance in a day in PRTC buses by buying a ticket worth Rs 110. With the stopping of operation of illegal buses, there is an increase of Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh per day in the income of the PRTC as load factor in its buses had gone up.

Informed sources said that the Punjab Government had allowed Punjab Roadways and PRTC to order increase up to 10 per cent in bus fares in case of increase in any input like diesel etc required for operating the buses. Beyond 10 per cent, the authorities concerned would have to seek the permission of the Punjab Government.

The Punjab Roadways authorities said that with the hike of bus fare, the increase in the diesel bill of the Punjab roadways would be offset. The Punjab roadways has a fleet of 2370 buses. The Punjab Roadways authorities have already released Rs 7.5 crore for buying spare parts and replacing tyres etc to operate the buses which were unoperative due to lack of these items. The tyre retreading plant of the roadways which was not functional for the past three weeks had been made operative by providing required financial aid, the authorities said.

As many as 1200 tyres had been released for replacement of old tyres. Things have started improving, the authorities claimed.

Informed sources said that the Punjab Government would soon issue orders increasing the concessional fare for old age women to 50 per cent. Earlier, only Rs 5 were charged from the old aged women holding valid identity cards. Likewise, for police personnel monthly charges had been increased to Rs 100 for travelling in government owned buses without ticket. However, they would have to travel on voucher to be issued by the Police authorities. The modalities with regard to vouchers were being prepared by the authorities concerned.