Bus fares not to go up for now, says Transport Minister

Shimla, July 7 (UNI) Bus fares would not be hiked in Himachal Pradesh despite the recent hike in the fuel prices and upward revision of passenger fares by Punjab, Himachal Pradesh Tourism and Transport Minister G S Bali today said.

''We will continue with the existing fares so long as we can sustain the losses, but not succumb to the threats of the private bus operators,'' he said, while talking to reporters here.

Mr Bali ruled out any hike in the bus fares in the near future, saying the private bus operators were at liberty to launch an agitation for demanding raise in the fares.

The private operators should not compare themselves with the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), which was meeting various social obligations and plying buses on 751 loss incurring routes, he said.

Besides, the HRTC was providing concessional or free traveling facility to various sections of the society like students, freedom fighters, handicapped sections and press people, he said.

Accusing the private bus operators of offering huge discounts up to 40 per cent to commuters and creating unhealthy competition, he said the HTRC would take stringent measures to ensure that the private operators issued tickets and avoided overloading.

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