PATIALA: With the toll charges going skywards, Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) has sought hike in the charges collected from the passengers. The
PRTC has shot a letter to the state government seeking hike in toll charges from the passengers that would further increase bus fare. The corporation had recently increased bus fare by six paisa per kilometre in view of rise in fuel cost.
“In 2011, a notification by the then government was issued to collect charges of toll from the passengers and the same were included in bus fare. The amount mentioned in the notification at that time was very less, but fair in accordance with then toll-charges. We have not increased toll-charges being taken from the passengers since 2011. However, now we have written to the state government to look into the issue and increase toll charges that are included in bus fare,” said PRTC managing director Manjit Singh Narang.
At present, PRTC is charging Rs 8 per passenger for each toll falling on their route. For instance, there are five toll plazas on the Bathinda– Chandigarh route and the PRTC officials claim that the corporation has to pay around Rs 1,400 for each bus on return route at all five tolls.
Narang added, “Taxes on toll plaza in 2011 were 10 times less than present rates and the number of toll plazas have also increased in the state. This had forced us to take some measures to reduce our losses and earn profit. The rise is expected from Rs 8 at present to Rs 12 or more per passenger that will be added in the ticket fare.”
Notably, PRTC had recently hiked bus fares by 6 paise per km to narrow the gap between its expenses and earnings. Following the increase, the bus fares now stand at Rs 1.10 per km for ordinary and Rs 1.32 for HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) buses since their fare is 20% more as compared of ordinary buses.
Those travelling by integral coaches owned by PRTC are paying Rs 1.98 per km and super integral coach cost passengers Rs 2.20 per km.
The PRTC at present running its sanctioned fleet of 1,075 buses, including 250 under the kilometre scheme and average daily receipt of PRTC has increased to 1.25 lakh from last one year. It daily covers 3.5 lakh km and earns Rs 1.46 crore. There are over 50
Volvo and HVAC buses of the corporation running on different routes in Punjab and other states.