Editorial
Transport fare issue
The right balance should be worked out
The capital city's bus owners have rejected the government-fixed rates of fare for different types of transport.
The reason for their rejection is based on an apprehension that a chaotic situation may set in if transport operators begin to charge fares that are higher than that fixed by the government. The official fare chart is not compatible with the increases made in the fuel prices, according to them.
Instances abound of serious public resentments over hiked up transport fare. Transport operators had to face public wrath, because they failed to comply with the officially fixed rates. They are not willing to come up against another face-off with the commuters. Which is why they have been maintaining the old rates of bus fare, even after the government re-fixed the transport fares.
It is heartening to learn that the transport owners are showing some respect to the public concern over increased transport fares. Unlike what they did in the past, they have not only not taken advantage of the situation, they even tried to prevail upon the government to reconsider its decision for the upward revision of fuel prices. But it will only be vindicated if they refrain from arbitrarily charging fares well beyond the fuel prices.
The government's logic for raising fuel prices is understandable; if only it had not done it within a matter of months. It should have an equally logical outlook about the public's limit of tolerance against the backdrop of unbridled rise in the prices of essentials. Clearly, costs of living have crossed common people's affordability level. At the same time, the government has to bear in mind that it is the poor and the limited income people who travel in buses. It proves to be the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.
We hope the government will pay due heed to the bus owners' concern about enhancement of transport fares corresponding to the elevated fuel prices. However, they should not bring in other factors to claim higher rates.
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