The West Bengal Government on Wednesday decided to increase taxi and bus fares across the State.

Commerce and industries minister Partha Chatterjee said bus fares would be higher by one rupee at every destination of journeys between three and 16 km. According to him, the minimum fare will be increased to Rs 5. On the other hand, minimum taxi fares would become Rs 25 from the current Rs 22.

“We have taken this decision to reduce the financial burden of the state and provide a better running-transportation system for the people,” Chatterjee told reporters at the Writers’ Building.   

According to him, the fares of buses in the districts will go up by 10 paisa a kilometre, while long-distance bus fares are set to be hiked considerably.

He, however, did not specify the date from when this fare hike would be effective.

Transport operators said that the proposed hike is not adequate. According to Tapan Banerjee, joint secretary of Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, increasing fares by one rupee would not be viable at a time when operators have been bearing an additional cost (Rs 1,500 for running a bus in Kolkata and Rs 2,000 in districts) for higher diesel price.

Strike call

An indefinite strike called by the operators of nearly 42,000 private buses in the first week of October was deferred till October 29. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had promised them of a fare hike by the end of October.

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