Bus owners seek another fare hike

21 April 2012 12:09 am - 7 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Private bus owners yesterday said they might request for an increase in bus fares later this year as the cost of repairs had doubled due to the escalating prices of items.

During the last bus fare increase in February this year bus owners’ unions had agreed with the transport authorities to revise fares on February 14 next year.

Private Bus Owners Association (PBOA) President Gemunu Wijeratne however said a bus fare increase would be needed sooner than that.

He said buses were usually serviced every 5000 km at a cost of Rs. 6000 but it had now nearly doubled at Rs.11,000. He said despite a 20% bus fare hike in February this year bus owners could not cope with this additional burden.

He said due to the high cost of living bus drivers and conductors on average pilfered about 30% of the daily income which further reduced profits of the bus owner.

“The private bus service in the country accounts for 70% of public transport services in the country unlike the residual which accounts for about 20%.
However the government pumps about a total of Rs.8 billion to the SLTB and railway services but we do not receive adequate financial support or subsidies,” he said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

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Comments - 7

Rajapaksha Saturday, 21 April 2012 04:44 AM

Mahinda Chinthanayate Jayewewa

theivesanon Saturday, 21 April 2012 09:14 AM

So the bus companies employ theives or is it normal to steal 30% of ones bosses takings ? Do all shop workers, hotel workers etc do the same ?

I would suggest the bus owners employ honest people although it seems like those sort of people do not exist in this country if the association is to be believed.

What stops these bus owners fitting cameras to their buses & working out which employees are stealing if at all.....

What sort of Association makes statement that a lot of its staff are theives...one that pays so low only people who steal would take the job ?

Seems to me this is just an excuse to make more money off the backs of the poorest in the country.

gemba Saturday, 21 April 2012 02:53 PM

Baduma thama...mahinda mamata jaya wewa

niyaz Saturday, 21 April 2012 03:16 PM

Why don't they stop there services if they are running at a loss rather than crying and taking the country to ransom. If they are running at a loss how come they start with one and end up having two or three after a year or two. Please don't BS the people PBOA president. The govt has to take the blame for the sorry state of our transport system.

Tharu Saturday, 21 April 2012 03:04 PM

every expeses are bouble or trible, not only repair cost. Bus fair is also double. Is a international conspercy? Wimal werawansa will answer for this. Because, he has double-PhD for political science and international affairs.

Detective_b Sunday, 22 April 2012 05:09 AM

Maru talk, per km cost of Service has gone up from Rs.1.2 to Rs.2.2 , now for that and all the other stories made up by PBOA, they need a fair hike, How about a 5 cent increment Mr.Gemunu.

Detective_b Sunday, 22 April 2012 05:42 AM

I would say, none of the private bus owners should be allowed to operate their buses on their own. it should be brought under some centralized mechanism where bus owners will have control until taking the route permit.

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Bus owners seek another fare hike

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