Delhi: DTC rolls back 10% hike in AC bus fares

Hours after it announced that fares of its air-conditioned buses has been increased by up to 10%, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) withdrew the revised fares

Hours after it announced that fares of its air-conditioned buses has been increased by up to 10%, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) withdrew the revised fares on Wednesday.

As per the earlier decision, DTC had raised the minimum fare of AC buses from Rs 10 to Rs 11 and the maximum from Rs 25 to Rs 27 for those travelling in the city. (Sonu Mehta/ HT File)

In the afternoon, the DTC had issued a press statement stating that it has revised fares of AC buses by up to 10 per cent. However, in the evening, the it issued another statement, saying, “The press release sent (earlier) today regarding service tax on DTC AC buses be treated as withdrawn.”

Sources told HT that the move to revoke the revised fares came directly from chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. “We received a message from the CMD to revoke it immediately. The decision must have come from the CM as the transport minister was privy to the revision,” said a DTC official.

As per the earlier decision, approved by transport minister Satyendar jain, DTC had raised the minimum fare of AC buses from Rs 10 to Rs 11 and the maximum from Rs 25 to Rs 27 for those travelling in the city.

Following the hike in the fares, the Delhi BJP criticised the move demanding a rollback of the same. “We demand immediate rollback of fare hikes done for DTC AC buses. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal failed to improve DTC services and bring 10,000 new buses,” said Delhi BJP convener, Khemchand Sharma.