Editorial
Increase in transport fares
Mechanism needed to enforce rates
Coming on the heels of the recent rise in the price of compressed natural gas (CNG), the move by the government to re-fix public transport fares may have been necessitated. But to announce a 22-30 per cent increase in bus fares in one go is sure to raise a question in the public mind. Actually, the burden of fuel price increase would have to be shared by transport owners, operators and commuters. Moreover, the fact remains that government fixed rates are seldom complied with by the transport operators.
When increase was announced on May 12 for CNG, the move was quickly taken advantage of by private bus transport operators, to a point where they came into sharp conflict with commuters at different points. One does not need much persuasion to be reminded of the severe economic problems consumers are already burdened with -- and not just in the matter of fares. For them now to cough up more money for their movements is going to be a burden on them. That's why it's of utmost importance that the government has a mechanism in place to monitor strict enforcement of the rates. In this endeavour, they should engage the transport owners' and operators' associations as well as government agencies concerned in a continuing process of consultation to ensure that arbitrary fares are not charged from the commuters. For, past experience does not seem to offer any encouragement in this regard; as transport operators have generally managed to get away with their acts.
A further consequence of the rise in fares is an increase in prices of essential commodities. The effects of such a hike on citizens' lives are already beginning to be noticed. With no enhancement in their earnings or purchasing power and yet for them to dig deeper into their pockets to keep families in survival mode, middle and low income group people are bound to suffer. Overall, to what extent the authorities are prepared to keep prices under control is a critical question.
But specifically, are the authorities ready to meet the fallout of the fuel price increase?
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