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RTA holds public hearing in Mangalore.

While the bus owners pleaded the Road Transport Authority (RTA) to increase the bus fare in the district in the backdrop of hike in the price of diesel, activists of various organisations opposed the proposal and pleaded the Authority not to increase the burden of the people.

At a public hearing convened by the RTA at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Thursday, advocate for the Canara Bus Owners and Operators Association (CBOOA) Nagesh said that the KSRTC had increased the bus fare twice after 2008, but the RTA did not allow private operators to hike the fare.

"Bus operators are entitled to hike the fare as the price of diesel, engine oils spare parts and tyre were skyrocketing after 2008," he added.
CBOOA Secretary Azeez Parthipady said that the bus operators are at loss due to the increase in the price of diesel and other items.

Moreover, the workshop exenses too is increasing day by day due to the bad roads in the district, he said adding, "it will be difficult for the bus owners to provide bus service unless the bus fare is increased."

‘Don’t increase fare’

Dakshina Kannada Jilla Nagarika Horata Samiti President J Sadananda said that there is no need of revision in the bus fare at present as the bus operators had not reduced the fare when the price of diesel was slashed. "Let the KSRTC introduce buses on all routes. Kindly do not increase the burden of poor people, who depend on buses, by increasing the fare," he added.

Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike President Hanumanth Kamath opposing the proposal of
increasing the bus fare said, "let the bus owners approach the High Court, if they want a hike in the fare. It was the same association which filed a writ and brought stay from the High Court when the RTA directed the bus owners to reduce the bus fare. Hence, the RTA should not increase the bus fare."

"Though the KSRTC had sought 101 bus permits, the RTA did not issue it upholding the DM notification.

However, the same RTA could issue 27 permits to private bus owners," he charged adding that the RTA should support the government-owned KSRTC, instead of helping the private bus owners.

Kamath suggested that the RTA should inform the people at least two days in advance before holding a public hearing on bus fare hike.

"People may not be able to attend the meet if the information was published on the same day. Hence, the information should be passed on in advance so that people can attend the meet with preparations," he added.

DYFI District President Muneer Katipalla said that the bus fare hike should be made scientifically and it should not be a burden on the poor.

Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav, who is also the Chairman of the RTA and the RTO Seva Nayak were present.