Cash-strapped Punjab government hikes bus fares yet again

Punjab government has hiked fares of ordinary and air-conditioned (AC) buses by six paise per kilometre per passenger from July 1 even as the Centre cut the diesel price by 49 paise a litre.

Punjab government has hiked fares of ordinary and air-conditioned (AC) buses by six paise per kilometre per passenger from July 1 even as the Centre cut the diesel price by 49 paise a litre.

Now, the fare of ordinary buses will be 98 paise per kilometer per person, up from 92 paise, according to a June 28 notification issued by secretary (transport) Anurag Verma. (HT Photo)

This is the second time this year that the cash-strapped Parkash Singh Badal-led government has increased the fare of buses.

From April 1, the government had increased the fare from 5 to 10 paise per kilometre for different categories of the buses.

Now, the fare of ordinary buses will be 98 paise per kilometer per person, up from 92 paise, according to a June 28 notification issued by secretary (transport) Anurag Verma.

With this hike, a passenger travelling by ordinary HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) buses will be charged 117.60 paise per kilometre. Those travelling by integral coach and super integral coach will pay 176.40 paise/km and 196 paise/km.

The Haryana cabinet also increased bus fares this Tuesday by 13.33 %.