Bus Fare Hike

The former Uttar Pradesh CM said the first increase in prices of milk will eventually end up in poor people reducing the quantity of milk that they give to their children

Justifying the increase in Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus fares, Transport Minister Daya Shankar Singh on Tuesday assured that there would be no further hikes in the next five years. The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) on Monday hiked fares for general buses by 25 paise per kilometre to Rs 1.30 per passenger. "There was no increase in fares for two years during the corona period... It should have been hiked earlier... The cost of diesel was Rs 60 per litre when it (the fare) was last raised and now it has gone up to Rs 90," Singh told reporters here. Many vehicles in the fleet have to be phased out after 10 years or upon completion of 11 lakh kilometres because of the National Green Tribunal, Singh said. Singh said the fare hike was important for the UPSRTC's survival. New buses have to be bought, recruitment of employees has been stopped for many years, 900 dependents of deceased employees have not yet been appointed, he added. Singh,

Private bus owners had demanded increasing the minimum fare of the general public from Rs 8 to Rs 12 and the subsequent per kilometre charge to Rs 1.10 from 90 paise

Private bus owners organisations had called the strike demanding lowering of diesel prices and an increase in fares

Recently the State Transport Undertakings in Tamil Nadu announced a hike in their fares