BEST may hike bus pass fare by Rs 5

The journey in BEST buses may become costlier for pass holders from May.

The journey in BEST buses may become costlier for pass holders from May.

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The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport authorities are planning to hike prices of bus passes by Rs 5 as they are spending Rs 50,000 daily in running their 2,400 odd-buses on diesel out of the fleet of 4,700.

“The hike in diesel prices in the recent Union budget is pinching us and so we are planning to hike prices of passes,” said a BEST official.

The issue of tariff hike of passes is pending for more than eight months. Last week the BEST administration hiked bus pass fares of those running in Mira-Bhayander and Thane regions.

The proposal states a hike in bus passes on daily, monthly, quarterly and annual basis for AC and non-AC buses. “It is necessary for at least the fares of passes to increase by Rs 5, which will help BEST increase their daily revenue by around Rs 20 lakh,” said BEST committee member Dilip Patel.

A hike of Rs 5 has been proposed in the ‘Magic’ daily ticket priced at Rs 15 (city limit), Rs 20 (suburbs) and Rs 25 (across Mumbai, Mira-Bhayander, Navi Mumbai and Thane).

But the committee isn’t unanimous on the hike issue.

“We will oppose any hike in bus fare when it comes in front of the committee,” said Ravi Raja, another committee member.

The annual Diamond Super AC pass, priced at Rs 9,000 is proposed to cost Rs 11,500. The monthly AC Diamond Super pass may rise from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,400. The BEST had last revised its rates of daily bus passes in February 2008.