Over to you Transport Minister
The revised bus fares are being exploited by bus conductors according
to the letter by T. J. Victor Silva in the Daily News July 30 in
People's Voices column.
According to Silva, he had to pay Rs.25 for a journey on route no.
240 bus where the old fare was Rs. 17. I had to pay Rs. 25 for a journey
where the old fare was Rs. 19.50 from Tudella to Colombo on route no.
187. myself and many other fellow travellers faced the same problem and
the conductors say they were issued with a revised fare table.
This is an increase of 47 per cent and 28 per cent respectively and
is a gross violation of the fare structure
proposed by the National Transport Commission. The new fare table was
published in the Daily News of July 4, 2007 and we are unaware of any
other fare hike issued by the National Transport Commission.
On June 3, 2007 the Daily News carried a news item from Chairman NTC
under the heading 'Sweeping changes to the private bus service'. We are
yet to see the light of these sweeping changes. But the NTC should be
pressurised by the Minister of Transport to implement those changes.
On July 30, 2007 the Daily News carried a news item from Private Bus
Owners Association Chairman Gamunu Wijerathne demanding another bus fare
hike citing the latest fuel increase. If the demand sees daylight, the
price of the minimum fare would go up from Rs. 5 to Rs. 6.
Up to you the Minister of Transport to save the commuters from
private bus operators.
H. M. Tissera, Kandana |
