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Fuel price rise: MSRTC to hike fares by 18 per cent from June 15
MSRTC has also decided to fix ticket fares in multiples of ₹5. The tickets sold at ₹7 would become ₹5 and that sold at ₹8 will become ₹10.
With the recent hike in fuel charges, the Maharashtra state road transport corporation (MSRTC) has decided to hike fares of all its buses by 18 per cent. The rise in ticket fares would come into effect from June 15. A MSRTC official on condition of anonymity said,"The diesel prices have gone up and the corporation has also announced salary hike for its employees. MSRTC has increased the ticket fare because of rise in expenditure due to these factors."
Diwakar Raote, state transport minister, had said that rise in fuel price will cost the corporation ₹460 crores more every year and staff salary hike will be additional ₹4,849 crores, thereby putting the organisation under financial strain.
The minister had stated that there was a proposal to hike ticket fare by 30 per cent. “To prevent passengers from facing a steep fare hike, it was later decided to implement a fare hike of 18 per cent,” he said, adding that demands have been made to the chief minister to lift the taxes on diesel. The decision to hike fares would be reconsidered if the demand is met.
MSRTC have also decided to fix ticket fare in multiples of ₹5 to avoid confrontations with regard to returning the balance money during the travel. The tickets sold at ₹7 would become ₹5 and that sold at ₹8 will become ₹10.
Most passengers are unhappy with the fare hike. Pranay Ajmera, an advocate, said, “This is an unwelcome decision but seems unavoidable in view of the fuel price hike. However, this will have an adverse impact on the life of those belonging to the middle and lower middle class. The government must reconsider it”
Kirti Dhole, a passenger, said, “The rise in fuel prices is making things costlier due to which people are suffering. The travel fares are constantly increasing and now this sudden rise of ticket fare will adversely affect commuters.”
