Orissa government hikes bus fare

Bhubaneswar, Jun 24 (UNI) Orissa Bus Owners Association today called off their proposed indefinite strike from tomorrow after the state government decided to hike the bus fare.

Private Bus Owners Association had demanded to raise the bus fare after the hike in prices of petrol and diesel and spare parts.

The Association members said the prices of petrol, diesel and spare parts had increased by 9.75 per cent and demanded the government to raise the bus fare accordingly, failing which they threatened to go on strike from June 25.

The government today raised the fare of Ordinary and Express buses by 4 paise, Deluxe buses by five paise and A/C Deluxe buses by seven paise per km on the basis of the recommendation made by the Technical committee.

After the hike a passenger will have to pay 44 paise for travelling one km in an ordinary or Express bus, 60 paise in a Deluxe bus and 74 paise in an AC Deluxe bus Now.

The new fare would be effective from midnight tonight.

The bus fare was last hiked in August 2006 following the hike in petrol and diesel prices. It was revised downward in April last year after reduction of the prices of petrol and diesel.

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