Reduced bus fares from November 11
Train fares too to be revised:
Chaminda PERERA
COLOMBO: CTB and private bus fares will be revised from November 11
to pass on the benefit of the fuel price reduction as announced by the
Government through the 2009 budget proposals on a directive of Transport
Minister Dullas Alahapperuma.
The National Transport Commission (NTC) has effected a complete
revision of the bus fare formula in concurrence with the diesel price
reduction which was effective from midnight on Thursday.
NTC Chairman Prof. Amal Kumarage said the minimum bus fare will be
reduced from Rs. 7 to Rs. 6 while the Rs. 10 fare will come down to Rs.
9 and the Rs. 116 bus fare will be Rs. 106.
The Transport Minister has instructed the Railways Department to
explore the possibility of revising the existing train fare in
compliance with the diesel price reduction as an immediate relief to
passengers.
Railways Department officials said they have to consider any daily
loss resulting when implementing such a train fare revision. However
they were hopeful that a train fare revision will be effected within the
next few days.
Meanwhile, Private Bus Owners Association Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne
yesterday challenged the NTC’s unilateral decision and declaration of
bus fare revision which he said violated the National Transport Policy.
“According to the National Transport Policy, the NTC should consult
the Transport Ministry and Private Bus Operators associations before
such a move is effected.
But the NTC did not seek our opinion when new bus fares were
formulated.
Wijeratne said his association will take legal action as the NTC has
revised and declared a bus fare revision without their Association’s
knowledge. A unilateral fare revision is a violation of the Transport
Policy agreed upon by all stakeholders in the field including the
regulatory body (NTC) before it was implemented.
“The Commission can not revise the minimum bus fares without our
consent. That is illegal. The authorities should have discussed this
issue with us before such a fare revision is declared. The declaration
of a fare hike is arbitrary and in contravention of the National
Transport Policy”, he said.
However, Wijeratne said a revision of bus fares other than the
minimum bus fare reduction can be accepted.
Present Bus fare Reduced by
range (Rs.) (Rs.)
7.00 - 10.00 1.00
14.00 - 20.00 2.00
23.00 - 28.00 3.00
30.00 - 44.00 4.00
46.00 - 50.00 5.00
52.00 - 69.00 6.00
71.00 - 73.00 7.00
75.00 - 87.00 8.00
90.00 - 95.00 9.00
97.00 - 116.00 10.00
This will bring fares of both the Sri Lanka Transport
Board and private buses on par.
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