West Bengal hikes bus, taxi fare

Minimum bus fare revised to Rs 5 and taxi fare to Rs 25

Refraining from it populist stance, the West Bengal government has finally decided to hike bus and taxi fares in the state to commensurate  with hike in fuel prices.

The bus fares in the state would be hiked by Rs 1 in every stage for destinations between 3 and 16 kilometres, with the minimum fare of Rs 5, informed  Partha Chatterjee, Commerce and Industries Minister, West Bengal.

Meanwhile, the minimum taxi fares would be hiked to Rs 25 from the current Rs 22. Thereafter, taxi fares would go up by 10 paisa each kilometre.

“We have taken this decision to reduce the financial burden of the State and provide a better transportation to the people of the State,’’ Chatterjee told reporters at the Writers' Building.   

The private buses and taxis in West Bengal had threatened to go on strike, if fare was not increased