Bus operators seek fare revision, public oppose; Decision awaited

At a public hearing convened by the RTA at the Deputy Commissioner's Office here on Saturday, the bus operators said they want a hike of 50 paise for first four stages and Re one for the next four stages for city buses, 70 paise hike for shuttle buses and 75 paise for Express buses.

RTO Mallikarjuna said the hike sought by the bus operators for city buses include—Rs 4.50 (Rs 5), Rs 5 (Rs 5.50), Rs 7 (Rs 8), Rs 8 (Rs 8.50), Rs 8 (Rs 9), Rs 9 (Rs 10). For rural service the revision sought by the owners include—Rs 4.50 (Rs 5), Rs 5 (Rs 6), Rs 6 (Rs 6.50), Rs 6 (Rs 7), Rs 7 (Rs 8). The revision sought for moffusil service include—Rs 5 (Rs 5.50), Rs 9 (Rs 10), Rs 13 (Rs 14), Rs 17 (Rs 18), Rs 22 (Rs 23) and the revision sought for Express buses include—Rs 5 (Rs 5), Rs 9 (Rs 10), Rs 13 (Rs 14) and so on.

Public voice

Bus Karmika Sangha representative Mohammed Rafiq said increasing the bus fare within four months is not acceptable. No RTA meeting took any decision which was in favour of the public. The RTA takes decision in the interest of the bus operators. The revised fare of the KSRTC is less than the city bus fare. It is not right to seek revision in bus fare for every once in three months. The DC should recommend for the nationalisation of routes to help the passengers.

On the other hand, Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi President Hanumanth Kamath said “the bus operators speak of stage only for the revision of bus fare. When a passenger boards a bus, then he is not asked to pay according to the stage. While revising the bus fare, the RTA has a responsibility to see that the buses are not overcrowded, buses follow the rules and regulations.”

“Many a time, the buses cancel their trips causing inconvenience to the public and the bus drivers and conductors behave rudely with the passengers. Though the KSRTC had sought 72 bus permits, the RTA did not issue it upholding the DM notification. However, the same RTA could issue 23 permits to private bus operators,” he charged adding that the RTA should support the government-owned KSRTC, instead of helping the private bus owners.

He said the bus fare should not be increased even by a single pie. CITU District General Secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said the hike in the bus fare will cause lot of inconvenience to the poor labourers who live with Rs 2,000 per month. “If the district administration takes a decision in favour of the bus owners, then we will intensify our protest,” he said.

Hasanabba, a member of the public, said the officials should not fine the buses within the city limits. “The fine should be imposed when the bus reaches the bus stand, to avoid traffic block. Zeebra crossing should be marked on all the important places in the city,” he suggested.

Owners speak

Canara Bus Operators Association President Rajavarma Ballal said that they are not asking for more. “With the steep increase in the prices of diesel and spare parts of the buses, we want the revision in the bus fare. The bus fare for Express buses should be hiked by 8.5 per cent and shuttle buses by 7.5 per cent. The cost of running a bus per kilometre has increased to Rs 28.8. We are asking for increase in five paise per passenger kilometre,” he said.

Dakshina Kannada Bus Operators Association President Bhaskar Salian said “About 75 per cent of the earnings from the bus operation goes to the fuel. When KSRTC could not withstand the hike in the price of petroleum products, how can we withstand? We are already incurring loss due to hike in the prices of petroleum products and spare parts.

We can not run the buses if the situation continues,” he said. Dakshina Kannada Bus Operators Association General Secretary Ajeej Parthipady said the insurance premium has been hiked by 80 per cent in the last one year. “We have not hiked student concession fare since 2008. We do not have any tax exemption just like the way KSRTC enjoys in North Karnataka,” he said.

Superintendent of Police Labhu Ram was also present.

'Decision on fare hike soon'

Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Chennappa Gowda said that he along with RTO?and SP have heard the bus operators and the public appeal. “After studying the bus fare in the neighbouring district and other factors, a final decision will be taken. We have certain guidelines from the government and we can not hike beyond the guidelines,” he said.

A meeting to discuss on the problems faced by the passengers and the public will be convened soon, he added.