BEST defer bus fare hike, will approach Maha govt for subsidy

Terming Bharat Bandh as successful, the Shiv Sena-BJP-led Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) on Tuesday again deferred the decision on the hike of bus tickets, saying it will write to the Maharashtra government to provide subsidy.

Terming Bharat Bandh as successful, the Shiv Sena-BJP-led Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) on Tuesday again deferred the decision on the hike of bus tickets, saying it will write to the Maharashtra government to provide subsidy.

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"Bharat Bandh - our protest against the hike of fuel prices was successful. People supported it by not coming out of their houses. Since the government is adamant we have postponed the decision on the hike of bus tickets and would instead write letter to the government asking for subsidy," BEST Chairman Sanjay Potnis of Sena told PTI.

The transport body has proposed to raise its bus fares by Rs 2, following which the minimum basic fare would be Rs 5. A hike of Rs 40 and Rs 110 for monthly and quarterly bus pass respectively has also been proposed.

Currently, the monthly bus pass is available at Rs 160, whereas the quarterly pass costs Rs 440.

"We have been asking the government for subsidy but no positive reply from them. As common man is already facing the heat of rising prices, so before taking any decision on fare hike we would once again approach the government for subsidy," Potnis said.

The BEST cannot afford to bear further losses which are to the tune of Rs 300 crore, he said.