Kolkata: There is a flux among bus operators struggling to cope with rising diesel prices. After the route 37 (Dhakuria-Howrah) buses tried it a few weeks ago, before reversing the decision, route 237 (Birati-Babughat) buses have started charging extra — up to Rs 20 — from Sunday.
Notices put up in several of the buses on the route say while the minimum fare of Rs 10 was not being revised, the Rs 12 and Rs 14 stages would be changed to Rs 15 and the Rs 18 stage will be changed to Rs 20. And it is not just a hike in fares. Route 79D, between Micheal Nagar and Babughat, has decided to reduce kilometres of each stage.
However, the final recommendations from the bus union are awaited.
Earlier, route 37 was the first to raise fares. However, after three weeks, and several arguments with passengers, the union went back to its old fare structure.
Tapan Banerjee of Joint Council of Bus Syndicate said though they have come across “aberrations”, a collective decision to increase the fares is yet to be implemented. “We are aware of the rising fares charged by a few conductors. We are fervently wishing that the govt listens to us,” he said.
While route 237 is aligned with the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, route 37 is aligned with the City Suburban Bus Service — an indication that all major unions are finding it difficult to operate amid rising fuel prices and other on- road costs.
Passengers, however, claimed they were being left in the lurch as no govt approval is being taken to carry out such hikes. “Buses on different routes but running on same alignment is charging different fares. We are confused. But if you ask the conductor questions, we are being talked to rudely,” said Debarati Sen, a resident of Bangur Avenue.
Titu Saha of City Suburban Bus Service said they fear fuel price will increase further. “We had Rs 68 as a base price for the current fares. Now, that fuel cost is Rs 100- Rs 105,” he said.
At least 24 major bus routes are running with less than 75% of its fleet this month, operators said. “Three trips a day is fetching us Rs 4,500-Rs 5,000. We are getting standing passengers only during office time. The per-day running cost is close to Rs 4,000 for buying fuel. You need to add the 20% commission for bus workers, police cases, maintenance, insurance, and CF costs. Those buses that depend on passengers on longer routes are suffering the most,” a bus owner said.