Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, Assam transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary stated on Thursday that inter-district bus prices will not be permitted to increase from September 1, as stipulated by the All Assam Motor Transport Association (Aamta).
Talking to the media, the minister said, “Bus fares will not be allowed to increase as the financial condition of the common people is not sound at this time. Common people travel through public transport. Many people have either been not been to resume their business or have lost their private jobs due to the pandemic. So, an increase in bus fare will affect them.”
General Secretary of Aamta gets upset
The transport minister’s statement on bus fares, according to Pradip Das, general secretary of Aamta, cannot be accepted, according to TOI.
“Private operators run 20,000 passenger service buses in the state. Around 11 lakh people are directly or indirectly dependent on it. Continuous rise in prices of kitchen essentials, fuel, and LPG cylinder has affected the bus operators also,” he said.
The decision to increase bus fare by Aamta
The All Assam Motor Transport Association (AAMTA) decided on August 23rd to raise bus fares by 50% if the government does not meet their demands of raising bus fares and providing financial help to bus owners and drivers in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
While briefing the media, AAMTA stated that after the government relaxes inter-district transportation, bus charges will be hiked beginning September 1.
The pandemic made everything come to a standstill position
During the pandemic, the bus service was suspended for four months, and the government only allowed private vehicles to travel between districts. The government’s move has been met with opposition from bus owners and drivers, who have also staged protests.
The association also urged that the vehicle’s insurance term be extended by one year, as well as a reduction in the road tax.
