Kerala Cabinet clears nod to hike bus fares

The private bus operators had called off the indefinite strike scheduled from January 31 after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to hike bus fares in the state. The minimum fares will be Rs 8 for ordinary buses from March 1, 2018. The fare at present is Rs 7.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) State committee, which held an emergency meeting on Tuesday had endorsed the proposal to raise the minimum fare in ordinary bus services from Rs 7 to Rs 8 and that in fast passenger services from Rs 10 to Rs 11. The panel also permitted the government to effect appropriate revision in the concessional fares applicable to students.

The private bus operators had called off the indefinite strike scheduled from January 31 after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured that the Cabinet would consider their demands and take a call on the Justice Ramachandran Commission recommendations.

The commission had recommended the government to increase the minimum bus charge from Rs 7 to 8. Earlier, referring to the demand from bus owners in the Assembly, the Chief Minister had hinted at a hike. Responding to questions, he said the transport industry was hit badly by the diesel price hike. He said bus owners had approached him seeking to increase bus fares.

OneIndia News