BEST panel gives nod for fare hike of Rs 1-4

MUMBAI: BEST bus fares are set to go up by minimum Re 1 and maximum Rs 4. The decision was taken after the BEST committee gave its nod at the Tuesday's budget meeting where the panel also approved new slabs, which will redefine bus tariffs.

Ticket prices of other BEST buses, including Express and AC, will also rise to Rs 8 and Rs 25, against the current Rs 7 and Rs 20. The monthly pass hike will be Rs 150, while for the quarterly pass, it will Rs 500-hike for 5 km.

have also been increased (see box). The new fares will come into effect from April next year only after it gets an approval from the BMC.

The division of distance on which bus fares are based has been changed: Till now, the slabs are for 0-2 km, 2-3 km, 3-5 km, 5-7 km etc, but it has been modified to 2 km, 2-4 km, 4-6 km, 6-10km etc. When members like Kedar Hombalkar (MNS) and Ranjan Choudhari (Sena) objected to the dropping of the 3km slab, BEST general manager O P Gupta said, "A state notification says bus slabs should be 2 km, 2-4 km etc. We have brought our fares in consonance with the order." He admitted with the 3km slab being dropped, commuters will have to pay Rs 10 instead of Rs 8 for the distance. "But a survey shows 60% passengers travel 2-4 km. Those travelling 2-3km will have to pay more but for those in the 3-4 km range, the fare will be unchanged," he said. The highest rise will be for 7 km: Rs 16 from Rs 12. But MNS corporators said if the 3km slab is removed, the tariff for 4km should be Rs 9 and not Rs 10.

Hombalkar said, "For more fare, put Wi-fi on all AC buses." All buses must also be fitted with CCTV cameras to ensure safety for women." Opposing the purchase of new CNG buses, the maintenance of which is costly, Sena's Suhas Samant suggested that the BEST should buy only diesel buses.

He opposed the Transport Division Loss Recovery (TDLR), a charge which 9.5 lakh power consumers have to pay for the transport wing losses. "Our buses ply outside Mumbai limits -- to Thane, Mira Road and NaviMumbai. Why should only island city consumers be burdened with the bus losses?" he asked.

The BEST has also proposed the creation of a transport cess on property tax at certain percentage. The revenue so generated can be given to BEST in future to cover part of deficit and fund capital project of transport division.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

BEST panel gives nod for fare hike of Rs 1-4

Dengan url

http://cegahkeropostulang.blogspot.com/2013/11/best-panel-gives-nod-for-fare-hike-of.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

BEST panel gives nod for fare hike of Rs 1-4

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

BEST panel gives nod for fare hike of Rs 1-4

sebagai sumbernya