The School Bus Owners Association (SBOA) has decided to bring the diesel price hike in effect from October 1. Consequently, parents will now have to shell out `50 more per month following the `5 hike per litre of diesel announced by the government on Thursday.
While the SBOA was quick to announce the hike’s implementation, other transport service providers have said that they will announce the same after meeting all stakeholders.
In addition to this, transporters have assured that though freight charges will increase, it would not have a direct effect on the cost of perishable commodities.
Speaking on the decision to increase the school bus fare by `50, Anil Garg, president of SBOA said that they had no option but to pass the burden onto the parents. “We understand the plight of the parents and hence have increased the fares marginally so that it does not put any undue burden on the monthly budget of the parents. We have kept the hike to a bare minimum and it will effective from October 1,” said Mr Garg.
Rajesh Pujari, president of Bus Owners Sewa Sangh that consists
of owners of luxury buses and contract buses said that they were in no hurry to hike the fares.
Experts from the transport industry said that while the hike in the price of diesel is nearly 10 to 12 per cent, the freight charges would increase by 3.5 to 5 per cent.