No hike in bus fares as fuel price dip brings relief

PUNE: People set for last-minute travel to be with their loved ones in the new year will not have to cough up extra for their travels as private bus operators have decided against hiking fares in the wake of the dipping fuel prices.

Kiran Desai, the secretary of Pune Bus Owners’ Association, said instructions have been issued to all bus operators to not hike the fares.

Balasaheb Khadekar, president of the Pune Luxury Bus Association, said while fares are not being increased, there could be some changes. “The state government has allowed us to increase the fares during the festive time by 50% as against the fares of a state transport bus operating on the same route. So, there might be some flexibility, but overall the fares are not expected to be very high,” he said.

The fare hike notwithstanding, a section of bus operators expressed concern over the Pune regional transport office (RTO) not making any arrangements to keep a check on the fares. “We have not formed any team. All our enforcement manpower is looking after work related to the Koregaon Bhima battle commemoration,” Pune regional transport officer Babasaheb Ajri told TOI.

“Having said that, passengers can always complain to us in case of overcharging by bus operators. They can email their complaints on mh12@mahatranscom.in or call on 022-62426666,” an RTO official said.

The RTO’s take, however, failed to cut any ice with travellers. “If the RTO had a team, it could always act as a deterrent against those intending to overcharge. Merely giving out a phone number or an e-mail address is not enough,” Aditya Singhai, who was travelling to Mumbai on Monday evening, said.