Bus travel to cost more from Aug 1
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 23
Travelling in public transport will be expensive in Goa from August 1, onwards.
After the State Government notified the newly sanctioned hike, the private bus operators have decided to implement it from August 1 onwards.
“The new rates will be implemented from August 1,” All Goa Private Bus Owners Association, general secretary Sudip Tamankar told Herald.
Tamankar confirmed that the State Transport Department has already come up with notification on State Official Gazette over hike in bus fares, which will be signed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, today evening.
“We will be meeting Transport Director Arun Desai on Monday, requesting him to complete the procedure within a week. Unless we get the notification in writing, we cannot go ahead with the new rates,” he stated.
When asked, Desai said that the entire procedure is been completed and now it’s up to the transporters to decide on the implementation.
“We have already come up with notification on Thursday…now let the bus owners decide when to go as per the new rates,” he said.
It may be recalled, it’s only after consistent warning of strike by private operators that department conceded on the hike. However, they failed to convince the government over their demand of 20 paisa hike.
Claiming that hike by 10 paisa, as offered by the State Government earlier, won’t help fetch additional income for the first nine kilometres, the private bus operators on Monday managed to get assurance from the chief minister over 15 paisa hike for each nine-kilometre stretch.
As per the hike, for first three kilometres Rs five will be charged whereas for every nine-kilometre stretch 60 paisa will be charged per kilometre.
After nine kilometres people will have to shell out 55 paisa per kilometre as against 45 paisa.
Diesel which was hiked by almost Rs five forced the bus operators to demand for a hike in bus fare.
