The issue of proposed hike in the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) bus fares is set to snowball into a controversy with more civic organisations joining the forces to oppose the hike. Civic activists Vivek Velankar and Jugal Rathi have pointed out that the reasons given by the PMPML authorities to raise the fares is illogical.
Circulating copies of the information sought from the PMPML under the Right To Information (RTI) Act, Velankar said the reason put forth by the authorities that rise in fuel prices is forcing them to hike the fares is farcical.
"We sought information as to how much burden of the rise in fuel prices is going affect the PMPML, and how much extra revenue they are going to generate from the fare hikes annually. The answers we received are appalling," Velankar said.
He explained that while the PMPML is going face a burden of Rs 4 crore per year due to rise in diesel prices, it is going to earn an extra revenue of Rs 50 crore out of the fares. "The figures are shocking as the difference is of around Rs 46 crore. Citizens are expected to suffer while the transport company is set to earn Rs 46 crore. Why are the fares being hiked to the extent of 18.5 per cent,"
Velankar questioned.
He added that it was just two years ago that the PMPML had hiked the fares and it was unfair to regular commuters. "We have demanded to chairman of Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Nitin Kareer that he hold a public hearing to decided the fate of the proposal. Opinions of the commuters should be taken into consideration before taking a decision, as it will directly affect them," Velankar said.TIMES NEWS NETWORK
