Private busmen want one rupee more on minimum fare
September 13, 2010 04:31 pm
Private bus operators urge the government to consider a revision of the minimum fare of Rs. 6 to Rs. 7, an increase of Re. 1. This, they claim is to enable the short distance operators to maintain their services without a loss.
The All Island Bus Operators’ Association president Stanley Fernando said that short distance bus operators are faced with the rising costs of maintenance and were finding it difficult to maintain their services without an increase.
“Even a three wheeler charges around Rs. 60 for a similar distance as covered by the Rs. 6 bus fare,” Mr. Fernando said.
For more than six months the bus operators’ requests for an upward revision of fares have been postponed as diesel prices have not been increased. However, to maintain the short distance services, at least an increase of another rupee is necessary, said Stanley Fernando.
“We are not asking for an overall revision of bus fares. All we need is a Re. 1 increase on short distance fares until such time that a major revision is considered,” said the bus operators’ association chief.
