No to minimum bus fare change

10 June 2011 06:23 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Sandun A. Jayasekera

A bus fare revision effective from July 1st is imminent but it is impossible to increase the minimum bus fare to Rs. 10.00 from the current amount of Rs. 6.00 as demanded by private bus operators, Private Transport Services Minister C.B. Ratnayake said.

A discussion on the private bus fare revision was held on Thursday chaired by Minister Ratnayake and attended by representatives of private bus operators, Transport Ministry and National Transport Commission (NTC) officials said.

The discussion concluded in a stalemate and another discussion on the issue is due next Tuesday.

“I cannot take a decision single handedly as the largest number of private buses in the country comes under provincial councils. Only about 3,000 buses come under my preview while provincial transport authorities handle about 17,000 buses. Therefore, a bus fare revision must come with the consensus of all stakeholders,” Minister Ratnayake told Daily Mirror.

Meanwhile Private Bus Operators’ Union chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said bus fare must be increased by 15% and the minimum bus fare by two rupees.
“We try our best not to take trade union action. But if we were pushed to the extreme we have no option but to take our buses from the road,” he said.

Mr. Wijeratne added that the bus fare should have increased by 5% in line with the National Transport Policy approved by the Supreme Court but the NTC failed to do that.

“Our demand of 15% increase has been calculated with the 5% gap that had been created. If the NTC grant the 5% increase together with this year’s scheduled bus fare increase we are ready to consider options given by the government. However, if we do not get a satisfactory bus fare increase we would definitely resort to trade union action,” Mr. Wijeratne warned. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 12

Calistus Jayatilleke Friday, 10 June 2011 06:27 AM

Perhaps, letting them take the buses off the road sounds like a better proposition just to see how long they will keep off.

asoka Friday, 10 June 2011 06:35 AM

Defense Secretory must over look all ministries...these ministers very good in eating " jarawa ".

kenny_fdo Friday, 10 June 2011 06:43 AM

10 Ruppees? Wow it's better to buy a cart. we it wouldn't be a problem to find bullocks because we already have more than 20million of them.

Poor Lankan Friday, 10 June 2011 06:40 AM

Miracle of Asia.

GOSL Keep on putting all the load on the people of this nation and prepare yourself to pack your things in 3 years.

GanjaRabbit Friday, 10 June 2011 07:33 AM

good idea kenny. I will buy one - consider yourself employed.

sama Friday, 10 June 2011 07:43 AM

Gota has enough strength to tackle these people. Let them to take buses off the road.

Bumba Friday, 10 June 2011 08:02 AM

The Private Transport Services Minister can not take a decision on the bus fare single handed. The who can? What a state of affairs!

imhyas Friday, 10 June 2011 09:06 AM

pls note only 18% of buses under him for this only a ministry what a
Waste ?

Sanath R Friday, 10 June 2011 09:11 AM

Out of a total of 20,000 private buses, if only 3000 is coming under the purview of the so called Minister, why do we have Minister for private transport?? Cannot really understand how these affairs work.

Nishal Friday, 10 June 2011 09:23 AM

Until July 01st the minimum fare would not be increasing..

rif Friday, 10 June 2011 09:30 AM

One hold they need Rs.10 and even one Km they need Rs.10
this fare is unfair minimum amount should not be change

ramesh Friday, 10 June 2011 06:58 PM

must change our life style

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No to minimum bus fare change

Comments - 12

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