BEST bus fare hike postponed until Sept 8

The municipal corporation has postponed the public bus fare hike until next Wednesday. HT reports.

The municipal corporation has postponed the public bus fare hike until next Wednesday.

HT Image

On Monday, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking had cleared the proposal to hike bus fare by 12.50 to 30 per cent for ordinary buses; the minimum fare will rise from Rs 3 to Rs 4.

There was no change in fares for air conditioned buses.

As per the proposal, for the first stage — about 2 km — the minimum fare charged would be Rs 4 instead of the existing Rs 3. For every next stage, Rs 2 will be added to the fare. Monthly and quarterly bus passes will be costlier by Rs 500.

But the new tariff will be implemented only after the civic general body clears it.

The proposal was on the agenda on Friday for discussion, but Mayor Shraddha Jadhav postponed it until September 8. She also scheduled a special general body meeting.

Though the Congress had strongly opposed the decision and walked out from the BEST committee meeting on Monday, the proposal was cleared by the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance on majority.

“The proposal will now be tabled before the civic general body meeting and then the new fare will come in force,” said Sanjay Potnis, chairman of the BEST committee.

BEST was the only mode of public transport that had not raised its fares in the past five years.

The last bus fare hike took place in 2005.

The fare hike would affect a majority of the 75 per cent passengers, about 30 lakh of the total 42 lakh commuters.

The remaining 25 per cent commuters travel short distances.