Fuel Price Impact: Bus fares hiked in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Monday hiked bus fares across categories owing to increase in prices of petrol and diesel. It is for the third time that bus fares have been hiked in 2018.

Ordinary buses will be charging 70 paise per km as compared to the previous fare of 68 paise per km while the fares of express buses have been increased to 73 paise per km from 71 paise per km.

Similarly, the deluxe and AC deluxe bus fares have been hiked to Rs 1.10 per km and Rs 1.23 per km, respectively, informed Private Bus Owners' Association secretary, Debendra Sahu.

"We are also not in favour of any hike in bus fares as it will adversely affect the passengers," said Sahu.

According to sources, as per the automatic fare revision mechanism, bus fares are increased by one paisa for every Rs 2 hike in fuel prices and as price of diesel has increased by at least Rs 5, the fares have been hiked by 2 paise for ordinary and express categories and 4 paise for deluxe and AC deluxe categories.

"We urge both the Central and the State governments for a unanimous decision on GST and VAT on diesel so that the prices are controlled," Sahu added.