Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 17: The district transport authority has, through an order, given in to the demands of the private operators, and revised the bus fares upwardly, effective from Monday January 17.  This is in response to a request made by the bus operators to upwardly revise the fares because of the increased prices of diesel, oil, spare parts etc.

The minimum bus fare for both express and service buses has been hiked from the present four rupees, to five rupees, which in effect, amounts to a 25% hike. Chairperson of the authority, P Hemalata, who also happens to the deputy commissioner of the district, has also increased the minimum city bus fare to four rupees.

The demand made by the people and consumers at a meeting recently organized at the office of the DC to examine the demand made by the bus operators, not to effect fare hike, has gone unheeded. The DC has said in the order, that the revised fare has been worked out after considering all the points concerning it, and after obtaining advice and suggestions from the concerned, and after holding discussions with the office bearers of various organizations and the general public, at a meeting held on January 12.

President of  Udupi City Bus Owners Association, Krishna Anchan, has said that commuters and students, who obtain their concession passes before January 31, will be issued the same at old rates. He clarified that those who obtain passes on and after February 1 will subject to levy of concession calculated on the basis of on new fares.