Pon Radhakrishnan backs TN govt's decision to hike bus fare

After a hiatus of six years, Tamil Nadu government on Friday hiked the fares of buses under State run transport corporations and private entities approximately by 20 to 54.54 per cent.

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan has come out in support of Tamil Nadu government's decision to hike the fares of buses under state run transport corporations, saying that the previous governments did not do it beacuse of "vote-bank politics".

After a hiatus of six years, Tamil Nadu government on Friday hiked the fares of buses under State run transport corporations and private entities approximately by 20 to 54.54 per cent.

"The Tamil Nadu Government didn't raise bus fare for 6 years. It is hiked now and is essential due to fuel price hike and financial purposes..The then government didn't hike fares due to vote politics. Hadn't it been the case, fares would've been hiked gradually," Radhakrishnan said.

While the minimum hike is in moffusil ordinary category, where the fare of Rs 5 for 10 km would now be Rs 6 (20 per cent hike), the highest is in Volvo buses, where the fare of Rs 33 for 30 km will now go up to Rs 51 (54.54 per cent hike). In town buses the fare has been hiked from a minimum of Rs 3 to Rs 5 and the maximum from Rs 12 to Rs 19.

The government cited a host of factors for the hike, including increase in fuel price and maintenance, annual increment in salaries, pension and purchase of new buses to increase efficiency. Defending the hike, it said the last time fares were increased was on November 18, 2011 when diesel cost Rs 43.10, whereas the price now was Rs 65.83.

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