Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 19: Recently private express and service buses plying in the twin-districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada had hiked their fares. Now, Dakshina Kannada District City Bus Owners Association has proposed to increase ticket rates in city buses plying in the city with effect from next week.

The association's office bearers have already met once and discussed the proposal to increase the fares. As per the current indications, city bus fares will go up by eight to ten percent. The increase will be about a rupee for every stage, and in all possibility, the new fares will become effective from next week.

President of the association, Aziz Parthipadi, said that the hike in fares had been affected previously in 2016. "Then diesel cost was Rs 56 per litre. The current price of diesel is Rs 66 per litre. Tax on vehicles, insurance, prices of spare parts, oil, tyre, and other items have gone up steeply. Service conditions and facilities provided to employees of city buses too have improved, putting further burden on our finances. Therefore, we do not have any other go but to increase fares by eight to ten percent," he explained.