STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Following widespread resentment among people following the sharp hike in fuel prices, the Centre recently reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel. After this, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also announced a reduction in VAT on fuel by Rs 7 on the eve of Diwali in an attempt to provide relief to people reeling under the impact of spiralling fuel prices.
This decrease in the prices of fuel has benefitted people who have cars. However, people who use public transport have not been benefitted from this reduction in fuel prices because city buses and long-distance buses have not decreased their fares.
When the government allowed public transport services to resume after the COVID-19 lockdown, bus owners hiked fares citing the hike in fuel prices. In Guwahati, the minimum fare of city buses is Rs 10. However, now that fuel prices have been reduced, fares of passenger vehicles have not been reduced. People using public transport are still paying high fares. The Chief Minister and even the State Transport Minister had time and again said that bus fares would not be allowed to increase as the financial condition of the common people was not sound due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But bus owners and motor transport unions have never accepted this. Unfortunately, no steps have been taken by the authorities concerned to keep a tab on the fares of passenger vehicles and this has evoked sharp reaction among the public.
Vehicles which are used for transporting vegetables and other essential items have also not reduced their fares. As a result, the prices of vegetables have sky-rocketed. In a nutshell, the common people continue to suffer due to price hike despite the reduction in fuel prices.
Moreover, passenger vehicles like city buses are operating without following the necessary COVID protocol. City buses are allowing more passengers than seating capacity. Passengers, drivers and handymen hardly wear face masks although wearing face masks is mandatory. COVID appropriate behaviour is not being followed and such violations are going on under the nose of the traffic police.
The government must take stringent measures to reduce the fares of public transport vehicles so that the common man gets some respite. Also, action must be taken against COVID protocol violators as the pandemic is not over yet.
Also watch: