Passengers availing private and minibuses for their daily commute will very soon face a tough time availing buses. Increasing fuel prices, coupled with unchanged fare structures for around eight years, is forcing bus operators reduce their operational fleet.
Last time when there was an official revision in the fare chart was in the year 2018. In and after the post Covid period, there was a lot of noise over fare hike for private and minibuses. However, with the previous regime not allowing a hike, private bus operators in the city and the suburbs, who have long been demanding fare revision, began charging increased fares, post Covid. Despite initial resistance by the commuters, often resulting in heated arguments with the bus conductors, Rs 10 became the unofficially declared base fare for travelling in private buses.
The long-standing demand of the operators to allow a free revision is yet to be fulfilled, while the recent fuel price hike came as a ‘blow to the industry.’ After the new government taking over, private and minibus operators sought the state government’s intervention for an immediate relief. However, as response from the authorities are yet to come, the operators have started exploring solutions that could act as immediate solution to their problem.
Operators of two private bus routes have decided to revise the fare chart citing increased expenditure following the hike in fuel prices. Several operators have cut off their operational fleet by one third and are rolling out buses in shifts to minimise losses. “Amid the rising fuel price, it has become very difficult for the bus owners and operators to roll out a full fleet,” said general secretary of All Bengal Bus Minibus Samannay Samiti Rahul Chatterjee. “One third buses in several routes have been withdrawn and only a two third are being trundled. To minimise cost, buses are being operated in shifts to keep the sector afloat and running,” said Chatterjee.
Another solution that the operators have found in the ‘ongoing crisis’ is to submit their demands seeking the intervention of the state government. Instead of submitting their demands after intervals, the bus operators from across districts are writing to the state government together requesting an immediate solution to their problems.
“The transport sector was already crippled as there was no fare revision for more than eight years. On the contrary, the cost of various parts and operations have shot through the roof. The fuel price hike over the years has added to our losses. Many operators have already reduced their fleet as they are unable to meet the cost of operations. In such circumstances, an immediate intervention of the state government is the need of the hour,” he added.