Meeting convened in the presence of DC to discuss bus fare hike

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 6: Bus owners, members of the general public, and various organizations met to discuss bus fare hike in the Conference Hall of the DC’s office on Jan 6, Thursday. The meeting was presided over by DC Subodh Yadav in the presence of Seva Naik, the regional transport officer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking on behalf of the bus owners, advocate Nagesh said that the government had not hiked bus fares during the previous year, in the event of which the High Court has approved the bus fare hike, following the recent hike in diesel price.

Begging to differ, District Nagarika Horata Samithi President Sadananda said that KSRTC buses reduce bus fares when the diesel price goes down, but private buses never reduce their fares. When the bus fares were reduced by the government last year, the bus owners moved High Court, he said, adding that they have gone to High Court again to increase bus fares.

Stating that the KSRTC is paying taxes to the government on the basis of number of passengers, he said that private buses are crammed with as many passengers as possible and pay taxes according to seats, adding that this is “cheating the government.” School children are literally tortured in private buses, he said, adding that these buses lack facilities such as proper seats, owing to which they cannot raise their fares.

Hanumantha Kamath of the Nagarika Hitarakshana Samithi said that the public are unaware that the meeting has been convened, adding that the public should be informed at least 2 days in advance. Stating that when the prices of essential commodities increase, the salaries and pensions of government officials and staff increase, he said that the common people do not enjoy any salary hike as a result of which people who run small businesses will have to spend all their money on buses. He said that if private buses are running at a loss, the public does not need them and urged the government to permit KSRTC city buses in Mangalore.

Muneer Katipalla said that if private buses are running at a loss and need to raise their fares, they would not have given free service during the Hindu Samajotsava. In response, City Bus Owners Secretary Azeez Parthipady said that the buses offered free service out of the respect and not to please any political party. Later, he spoke about road problems.