Bus fare in Haryana set to go up

The state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda approved the proposal of the Transport Department to enhance the basic bus fare of ordinary buses by 10 paise per km "in view of increase in the rate of diesel, expenditure on staff, spare parts like tyre-tubes, premium of insurance of buses, cost of bus chassis and that of bus fabrication."

At present, the basic bus fare of ordinary buses is 50 paise per km, which has been raised to 60 paise per km.

The bus fare for other categories will also be enhanced proportionately. After revision of this fare, the chargeable bus fare in Haryana will be 75 paise per km including 25 per cent passenger tax of basic fare.

Even after the bus fare revision, the bus fare in Haryana will remain less than the bus fare in other neighbouring states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Union Territory, Chandigarh and Delhi, Hooda later said.

The enhancement in bus fare has been made by the government after a period of two years. Due to this enhancement, the Haryana Roadways will be able to reduce its losses up to some extent, he said.

On October 13, bus fare in Punjab had gone up by almost 20 per cent after the Punjab government decided to raise fare in the wake of increase in diesel rate.

Talking to reporters, Hooda predicted victory of Congress party in Gujarat elections adding that the party was getting good response from the people.

The Chief Minister, who had recently campaigned in the poll-bound state, is scheduled to again visit Gujarat tomorrow again.

"The Congress party will form government in Gujarat," he claimed.

When asked to comment about his proposed visit to Bhutan later this month, Hooda said that he was going to discuss about setting up of a hydel project there.

In reply to a question concerning his directions to the Deputy Commissioners who hold night camps in rural areas, Hooda said that such camps proved beneficial in acquainting them with the ground realities and infuse a sense of trust among the people.