Pvt bus fare hike likely

It is inevitable, say bus owners

Addressing a press meet, Association President Hosur Ramesh Joyappa said the bus insurance has been increased by 70 per cent. The cost of tyres and tubes have been increased by 40 per cent. The Union government has announced that it will increase the diesel fare. In this background, hike in the fare is inevitable for the maintenance of the buses, he said and added that the hike in diesel fare will lead to hike in bus fare.

He said “bus passes are given to students. With the poor condition of roads, we are planning to stop the movement of buses on certain routes. The roads to Virajpet-Gonikoppa-Kutta are in deplorable condition.”

The government has released Rs 5 crore to develop roads in the district.
 However, authorities have not taken any measure to develop the road. The roads leading to Bettageri, Napoklu, Kakkabbe, Kushalnagar and Hebbale were in deplorable condition, he added.

He said “few places do not have bus shelters and the infrastructures. In spite of it, the Gram Panchayats collect bus shelter fee every year. If the authorities fail to provide basic facilities, then we will stop paying bus shelter fee in the future.”

The allegation that no private buses ply on Bhagamandala-Talacauvery route is far from reality. There are many instances where there are no passengers for the buses, he added.