Government approves bus fare hike

The Government yesterday agreed to increase bus fares by 4% from midnight but kept the minimum charge unchanged, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said in a statement.

However, the Minister said that the demand to increase bus fare by 10% cannot be accepted. 

Instructions have been issued to officials of the National Transport Commission and the Secretary of the Transport Ministry to set up a mechanism to adjust the bus fare according to the fuel price formula by 1 January, the statement said. 

The Colombo District Bus Passenger Association, however, condemned the decision taken by the Transport Ministry to increase the bus fare without any consultation with passengers.  

“If this keeps happening, passengers will find alternative modes of transportation. We have never experienced any form of price reduction,” Colombo District Bus Passenger Association Secretary Gemunu Paranawithane told Daily FT. 

He complained that the quality of the service has not been taken into consideration at all. 

“This factor is hardly spoken of in any discussion. The loudspeakers and unpleasant treatment meted out to the passengers need to be considered when fares are increased,” he said.

“We requested a discussion with officials to highlight the daily struggle we all experience, but unfortunately, we did not receive any sort of response from them. It is clear that the Government stands with the bus owners and completely ignores the public,” he added. (NS)