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Revision of bus fares ruled out

Mathew T. Thomas: student fares will not be revised independently.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas has said that the State government is not contemplating an increase in bus fares in view of the increase in price of diesel.

Replying to questions at a press conference here on Saturday, the Minister said the bus fares in the State were higher compared to other fares and tariffs. Besides, railway fares were more competitive.

Mr. Thomas clarified that student fares would not be revised independently. Previous revisions had been done as a package.

He said a Cabinet committee was working on measures to pay pensions to retired employees of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). Pension payments were stalled last month as the corporation could not go on taking loans for paying pensions. It was important to keep the services going. The question of government bearing the pension liabilities was under consideration.

The Minister said that though the revenues of the KSRTC had gone up, it was facing a shortfall of Rs.20 crore for meeting its expenditure every month. The shortfall resulted from pension, insurance and interest liabilities.

Collection from bus services had increased to Rs.80 crore last month compared to Rs.72 crore in April last year. The KSRTC was operating more services now with the introduction of new buses built in its own garages. As more buses became available, the government proposed to stop renewal of permits given to private buses along 31 old routes reserved for the KSRTC, the Transport Minister said.

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