Guwahati residents resent impending hike in bus fare

Guwahati, October 3, 2018:

Guwahati residents, cutting across social strata, have ventilated their ire over reports that bus fares will go up substantially.

They said the hike in fares would seriously impact the people, especially those who belong to lower income groups.

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“With the hike in petrol and diesel prices which is affecting bus fares, we, the lower middle class people, are suffering. The price of every item is increasing as the fallout of fuel prices hike. We are at a loss now,” Deepika Roy, a housewife, told InsideNe.

When asked, a businessman, Amitabh Borthakur, said, “Petrol price hike should be brought under the Goods and Services Tax (GST)”.

According to reports, the minimum city bus fare in Guwahati will be Rs.7. This is for a distance up to 3km. The fare will be Rs.8 for a distance from 3km to 5km, Rs.12 for journey from 5km to 9km, Rs.15 for 9km to 13km, Rs.18 for 13km to 17km, Rs.21 for 17km to 21km and Rs.23 for 21km to 25km.

The minimum long distance bus fare is expected to increase by 30 per cent. The Guwahati-Tinsukia fare will be increased to Rs.663 from Rs.510. Similarly, Guwahati-Imphal bus fare, which is now Rs.800, will be Rs.1,040 and Guwahati-Silchar fare will be Rs.702. Currently, the fare on the route is Rs.540.

The bus operators are demanding for 40 per cent increase in fares. However, it is the state government which will take a call on the percentage of increase.