Staff Reporter,
Guwahati, October 12: The Aam Aadmi Party Assam condemns the step taken by the District Transport Office of Kamrup (M) under direct instructions of the Transport Minister and Chief Minister of Assam to hike the fares of public transport especially city buses traveling across the Guwahati city area.The BJP Government, even after the meteoric inflation of prices of daily essentials and at times of relatively stable fuel prices has decided to go with an unpopular decision that would directly affect the savings of the local citizens. In times when Guwahati City sees a rise in traffic jams due to the increasing number of vehicles on road, it should be the policy of the Government to incentivise public transport. Yet by the steep increase of fair prices, the Government is trying to attack the same people who voted in its favour to keep the bus mafia syndicate away. In this regard, the Aam Aadmi Party, Assam strongly condemns the step of the Assam govt for not being concerned about the impact of the price hike on the common people. As per the new bus fare policy, up to 5km, the fare is ?10, for 5-9 km is ?15, for 9-13 km is ?18, for 13-17 km is ?22, for 17-21 km is ?26, for 21-25 km is ?30. After 25 km, the fare will be increased at a rate of 1 per km. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the minimum bus fare was fixed at 7 from ?5 by the DTO -a release added. AAP Assam State Coordinator, Dr Bhaben Chowdhury stated, "Although the economic effect of COVID on our incomes and savings has not gone yet. The impact of the epidemic still haunts the poor, lower-middle class and middle-class citizens who are the major users of public transport. Along with that, the Govt of Assam has also failed in forming people-centric policies and giving subsidies to women traveling in buses to their work. We would request the Chief Minister of Assam to immediately take back this decision and provide concessional fares to the school children, women and girls traveling in the safety of public transport across the state of Assam.
0 Comments