Public transport may get dearer as fuel prices rise

Pune: Public transport may become costlier following the recent fuel price hike, with authorities and owners of private and public buses as well as autos and cabs contemplating an increase.

The state-run MSRTC is considering a proposal to increase bus fares, while private luxury bus operators said inter-city and inter-state ticket prices could rise by 5% or more. Autorickshaw unions are also preparing to demand fare revisions.



State transport minister and MSRTC chairman Pratap Sarnaik said the recent diesel price hike would impose an additional annual burden of Rs124 crore on the transport utility. “Although there will be no immediate fare hike, a proposal to increase fares is under consideration. The MSRTC is grappling with financial difficulties and has incurred a loss of approximately Rs76 crore in April alone. Escalating fuel costs are directly impacting the corporation’s financial health. A decision to increase fares looks necessary in the future,” he said on Monday.

The MSRTC’s fleet of buses use around 10.9 lakh litres of diesel daily. Sarnaik said diesel price supplied by Indian Oil Corporation has risen from Rs88.21 per litre to Rs91.31 per litre — an increase of Rs3.1. “The hike has compelled the MSRTC to incur an estimated additional daily expenditure of Rs33.7 lakhs. On a monthly basis, the burden amounts to approximately Rs10 crores, while it is projected to reach around Rs124 crores annually,” he added.

He said a proposal for fare revision would be submitted to the state transport authority and a final decision would be taken after approval from those concerned.

Over the last week, fuel prices have continued to rise. Diesel touched Rs93.45 per litre and petrol climbed to Rs106.98 per litre. CNG prices have increased sharply, with MNGL charging Rs92.25 per kg and Torrent Gas increasing rates in Pune rural areas to Rs96.5 per kg on Monday. An official of the Petrol Dealers Association Pune said prices may go up further because of the continuing West Asia crisis. “The fear of fuel shortage going ahead has led to increased buying,” he said.

President of the Pune District Luxury Bus Association Balasaheb Khedekar said operators were considering a 5%-6% fare hike soon. “It could increase further if conditions don’t improve,” he said.

Another association official said transporters were already struggling because of heavy taxes, the “faulty e-challan system” and rising spare-part costs. “Under the circumstances, a fuel price hike will have an impact and fares will go up since there is no choice,” he added.

General secretary of Rickshaw Panchayat Nitin Pawar has demanded a regulation of CNG prices and said the union would approach authorities for an auto fare hike. Current fares in Pune are Rs24 for the first 1.5 km and Rs17 for every subsequent km.

Commuters said they were already feeling the impact. Sarmesh Pradhan, a Vimannagar resident, alleged some auto drivers were charging extra citing higher CNG prices. “On Sunday, I was asked for Rs50 more after the trip ended. Some of my friends have faced the same issue,” he said.