Bus
fare hike coming
Private bus owners warned of another price increase by 15 to 20
percent from July 1, based on the national fare policy, but said
fares will not be increased with the recent diesel price hike which
was minimal.
The
national fare policy is decided based on a number of factors including
hike in diesel price, cost of servicing vehicles, cost of spare
parts, etc. The fare is increased every year according to National
Transport Commission (NTC) policy. However, bus fares have been
increased more frequently due to the fuel price hikes.
Sources
said that as fuel prices would be determined every month according
to world market prices, with another fuel hike, bus fares too would
increase. Meanwhile, at a meeting held recently by bus operators
with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse , it was decided to draft
timetables so that the buses would run in a more orderly manner.
Lanka
Private Bus Owners' Association (LPBOA) head Gemunu Wijeratne, told
The Sunday Times the recent series of bus accidents can well be
accredited to the delay in implementing the route franchising scheme.
"If
this scheme was implemented, the company could be held responsible,
but our politicians are not ready to do it. It's good at least now
they have agreed to the drafting of timetables as a first step,"
he said. |