Lanka Private Bus Owner’s Association Chairman Gemunu Wijerathne yesterday said increasing bus fares is unfair at a time when 90 percent of private buses are not running on roads and passengers are facing inconveniences.
He said the government which raised fuel prices at a time when there is no fuel, has increased bus fares at a time when buses are not operating.
There is no point of having a government of this sort, he added. He said that bus fares had been increased during the height of COVID-19 pandemic as public transport was allowed to accommodate passengers only according to the seating capacity.
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He said that the passengers who travel on the roof of the buses have to pay bus fares in the present scenario.
“There is no wrong in implementing the annual bus fare revision. But this could have been postponed for sometime until at least 75 percent of buses begin operations,”he said.
The increase in the minimum-bus fare upto Rs.40 will result in passengers to shy away from private buses and that will create more problems in the industry, he said.
NTC approves bus fare hike by 22 %: Minimum fare up to Rs.40
The National Transport Commission (NTC) yesterday approved the increase of bus fares by 22 percent with effect from midnight yesterday according to the annual interim bus fare revision.
Accordingly, the minimum bus fare will be Rs.40.
The fare hike will be applicable for both private and SLTB buses.
NTC Director General Nilan Miranda addressing the media briefing held in Colombo said that some private bus associations were requested for a 30 percent increase while several other private bus associations were requested for a 20percent fare increase. But with the calculation considering the twelve criteria, under the annual bus fare revision, 22 percent increase in bus fares was approved, “he said
This decision was taken following the recent fuel price hike that came into effect at several occasions this year.
courtesy dailynews
