GUWAHATI: The All Assam Motor Transport Union has decided to ply public buses from September 1, 2021, in the state with a 50 percent increased fare.
The Union held a meeting at Tezpur, on Sunday and resolved to hike passengers' fair in order to compensate for the loss they incurred during the lockdown period.
A few days earlier, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma hinted that the state government may grant permission for inter-district movement from September 1. After the Chief Minister's announcement, the Motor Transport Union in the meeting elaborately discussed many issues they have confronted.
In the meeting presided over by the Union's president Ratul Chandra Sarma, it was also discussed that the bus owners have incurred a huge loss due to the ongoing pandemic and the prolonged lockdown. " It would be impossible to carry the passenger transportation at the rate of fairly fixed on October 18, 2021. At that time the price of per litre petrol was Rs. 68 which is now around Rs. 90. We have also to bear extra expenditure like buying tyres", the members of the Union said in the meeting.
The Union demanded the state government to increase passengers' fare and warned that they would do it in case the authority does not do it.
Assam state government has decided to resume inter-district buses services from September 1 after 3 months. Addressing a press meet on the eve of 100 days of BJP led Assam government, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that public bus services will resume from September 1. Further, the government has also decided to provide one-time financial assistance to around 60,000 drivers and handymen of the state. The same could be claimed by registering on a government-initiated website.
Further, the chief minister added that in Guwahati only electric or CNG buses will ply on the road in order to cut down emissions. The government is also planning to procure 200 electric buses and 100 CNG buses.
Also Watch: