Bengal govt increases fare in state buses

To introduce smart cards in buses, trams

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee might be the messiah of common man at the Centre, protesting any kind of “anti-people move” - be it rail fare hike or increase in fuel prices, but in her home state she is going ahead with “unpopular” decisions, the latest one being a fare hike in state-run buses.

Following the increase, the minimum fare at state-run buses have been revised from Rs 4.50 to Rs 5. Announcing the new fares, state transport minister Madan Mitra said, “There is no hike. We are revising the fares only to do away with the problem of providing change, which is incurring huge loss in transport corporations.”

 

Citing the similar reason of shortage of 50 paise coins, the government recently revised the tram fares also from Rs 4.50 to Rs 5. However, the moves are no exception as the state government has taken many such “unpopular” decisions. In fact, since the Trinamool Congress came to power, the government has allowed prices across the state power utilities to be quietly increased three times, a cumulative rise of 29.5 percent, adds the report. Besides power, the government has made milk, a household essential, costlier by Rs 6 per litre. Also, all these have been done in a roundabout manner to do away with public criticism.

Smart card for bus, tram
The West Bengal transport department is also planning to introduce a smart card for travelling in the state-run buses and trams.

“The proposal was given by the transport corporations. We took up the matter in the group of minister meeting. We will send it to the chief minister’s office for the final approval,” state transport minister Madan Mitra said.

According to him, apart from reducing corruption, this would help to reduce the losses of ailing the transport corporations as the printing coast of tickets would come down.