West Bengal Transport Minister Arjun Singh announced on Monday that the state government will consider a revision of private bus fares following the Durga Puja festival, describing the price adjustment as long overdue.
Speaking after a meeting with private bus operators, Singh stated that any potential fare hike would require operators to provide better amenities for passengers, including improved bus management and air-conditioned services. He also noted that state transport undertakings, which are currently incurring heavy losses, should have adjusted fares at an earlier date.
Representatives for private bus operators told government officials that the current fare structure has remained unchanged for eight years and is no longer financially viable. P.N. Bose, a representative of the West Bengal Bus and Minibus Owners’ Association, highlighted that operators are struggling with diesel prices exceeding Rs 100 per litre alongside steadily rising vehicle maintenance costs.
Under the current state-fixed rate, the fare for stage 1 is set at Rs 7, though private operators currently collect Rs 10 through an unofficial arrangement. To offset operational losses, bus owners are demanding that the official stage 1 fare be increased to Rs 20.
Operational challenges have contributed to a significant decline in Kolkata’s public transport fleet. The number of operating buses in the city has fallen from roughly 6,000 stage carriages prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to approximately 3,500 today. Industry representatives attributed part of the decline in private bus readership to free bus travel offered to women on government-operated vehicles, forcing private bus owners toward route rationalization and informal fare adjustments to remain operational.
The meeting between the transport ministry and bus operators also covered operational disputes, including traffic fines, differences in road toll rates between West Bengal and other states, and requests for government support. Operators asked for a one-time relief package and a waiver of pending VAHAN-related penalties. While Singh promised to look into the regulatory and toll issues, the state government offered no immediate assurance regarding the requested financial relief package.
Sources
India Today: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-private-bus-fare-hike-after-durga-puja-ptag-2994631-2026-09-15?utm_source=rss
Source: India Today – India
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Story synopsis gathered from: India Today – India — source
