PUNE: Fares of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) buses would go up by two rupees in coming days as the Board of Directors of the transport utility has given a nod for revision of fares on Friday. Also, excluding travel passes for senior citizens, charges of other passes issued by PMPML to commuters would also go up considerably.

The PMPML management had sought a Rs 3 hike in bus fare per stage. However, the Board of Directors approved the hike of two rupees.

Joint managing director of PMPML, Satish Kulkarni told Sakàl Times that the revised fares will be implemented with the approval from Regional Transport Authority (RTA) soon.

Rise in fuel prices over a past year along with growing internal expenses were the prime reasons put forth by PMPML authorities as ground for raising fares.

According to authorities, a loss to the tune of Rs 30 lakh-Rs 40 lakh is being incurred daily by the transport utility owing to increase in expenses.

Civic activists had flayed PMPML bosses over fare-hike proposal terming it as unnecessary while suggesting other means for increasing the revenue of public transport utility.

Earlier, activists from NGOs PMP Pravasi Manch and Sajag Nagrik Manch and local BJP leaders staged protest against proposed fare hike before the starting meeting of Board of Directors.

It has been also decided that half of the total 500 buses to be purchased from JNNURM would have doors on both sides of bus while rest would have doors only on the left side.

NGOs to oppose hike

Civic activist Jugal Rathi said that several NGOS in the city have decided to joint hands in fight against fare hike. “We will sit together and decide our future line of action,” he said.

Band’s two offices

Civic activists have termed it ‘unethical’ that divisional commissioner Dilip Band holding the additional charge of chairman cum managing director of PMPML as well as leading the RTA. “If pursued, the issue of  PMPML fare hike would ultimately land before RTA. Since Dilip Band heads both RTA and PMPML, one can have little hope of getting justice done,” they rued.

Last hike

PMPML fares were last revised upwardly in September 2008. However, a strong joint opposition at that time by several citizen groups in the city had resulted in restoration of old fares for first four-stages of journey in March 2009.