Fare hike issue: Pvt buses off the road in Pondy

Puducherry, Sep 30 (UNI) All private buses, including town and inter-state buses in Puducherry, went off the road today causing hardships to school children and office-goers, as private bus owners association resorted to a one-day strike demanding upward fare revision.

Association president Bharathi Kannan said they were demanding an upward revision in the fares for the last five years. As the government did not take any action, the association revised the fares recently.

However, on a request from Lt Governor Govind Singh Gurjar and an assurance that the new government would look into the matter, they withdrew the fare hike. Since, the government had not taken steps with regards to their demands so far, the association was forced to resort to a day's strike to draw the attention of the administration, he addded.

If the government failed to consider their demands, the association would go on an indefinite strike from October 10, he said.

UNI PAB SKB DS1125