Bus fares go up in Kolkata by 50 paise

Bus fares will be increased by 50 paise in Kolkata following the hike in the prices of petroleum products.

Bus fares will be increased by 50 paise in Kolkata following the hike in the prices of petroleum products, West Bengal Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty announced on Friday.

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"Bus fares in Kolkata will increase by 50 paise at the soonest due to the rise in petrol prices. However, taxi fares will not be increased right now," Chakraborty told reporters at Writers' Buildings, the seat of the state government, in Kolkata.

"We have increased the fare nominally so that it no way becomes a burden for the public," he added.

The central government on Wednesday increased the prices of petrol by Rs.5, diesel by Rs.3 and cooking gas by Rs.50 per cylinder.

Protesting the central government's decision to hike prices, West Bengal's ruling Left Front gave a call for a state wide 12-hour shutdown on Thursday while the main opposition Trinamool Congress called for a similar shutdown on Friday.