Minimum Charge in KSRTC Buses Rs Seven

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The Government has increased the minimum ticket fare in KSRTC buses from Rs 6 to Rs 7. The new rate is now on a par with the minimum fare of private bus services. The Cabinet decision effectively reversed the decision by the Oommen Chandy government in February this year to reduce minimum charge exclusively for KSRTC resulting in a daily loss of Rs 25 lakh to the ailing state carrier.
Transport Minister A K Saseendran said the decision was taken to unify the minimum charges of private bus service and that of KSRTC. “The previous government took populist decisions ahead of the election without considering the financial capacity of KSRTC. They did not take any effort to bring down the rates in private buses,” said Saseendran. He was speaking at a meet-the-press at Kesari Memorial building here.
According to him, KSRTC suffered a loss of Rs 16 crore after the previous government made bus ride free for students up to higher secondary. Saseendran said the government was not taking any decision to revoke free ride immediately.