Bengal private bus operators demand minimum fare of Rs 18

Kolkata, Nov 3 (PTI) The Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, an apex body of private bus operators in West Bengal, has suggested a revised slab-based fare for ordinary local buses in Kolkata, starting at Rs 18 for the first four kilometres.

    Detailing its proposed fare structure, council general secretary Tapan Banerjee, in a letter to the Transport department suggested that local bus passengers be charged Rs 18 for four km, Rs 22 for six to eight km, Rs 24 for eight to 12 km, Rs 26 for 12 to 16 km, Rs 28 for 16 to 20 km and Rs 30 for journeys between 20 and 22 km.

    "The last revision of bus and minibus fares in West Bengal was effected in 2018, and the sector has since faced several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and rising operational difficulties," Banerjee told PTI on Tuesday.

    Currently, the official fare for the first stage is Rs 8 in the city and its suburbs for local buses, while private bus operators are charging Rs 10 from passengers for the first 4 km without the fare being ratified by the government.

    For district services, the council has proposed a minimum fare of Rs 20 for the first four km for ordinary buses, followed by Rs 1.20 per km.

    For express buses, it has sought a minimum fare of Rs 25 for four km, followed by Rs 1.50 per km.

    The proposed minimum fare for ordinary air-conditioned buses is Rs 40 for four km, while Volvo buses should charge Rs 40 for the first two km, he said.

    "Over the years, several transport ministers have changed, while the bus and minibus owners have faced multiple major setbacks, beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The private bus transport system is now in a state of coma," he said.

    Banerjee argued that a fare hike was the only viable option to ensure normal services and save the private transport industry to meet operational costs and the rise in fuel costs.

    The association said it had submitted a memorandum containing a nine-point charter of demands, including a fare revision, to the department on September 14, 2026.

    It further said the transport authorities had assured them that a decision on the fare issue would be taken after Durga Puja this year.

    The council pointed out that minibuses operate alongside ordinary buses in several districts and urban centres, including Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur, Asansol, Malda and Darjeeling.

    Explaining the financial burden on operators, it said running a bus involved three categories of expenditure -- daily, monthly and annual operational costs.

    "Daily expenses include diesel, workers' wages, police-related expenses, syndicate management costs and tyre rentals, while monthly expenditure includes bank EMIs, maintenance, road tax, mobile-related expenses, gear oil replacement, ticket printing and other miscellaneous charges," Banerjee said.

    He stressed that annual expenses include fitness certificates, insurance, battery replacement, electrical parts, engine overhauling, staff bonuses, contributions towards various pujas, stationery, depreciation and compensation for accident-related losses.

    The council said a bus generally operates for around 270 days in a year, while operators have to bear expenses throughout the year.

    It also stressed that a monthly salary for bus owners or operators was necessary in addition to meeting operational expenses.

    Banerjee said that of the 9,000 private stage carriages plying in the city and its neighbourhood in pre-Covid days, the number has come down to over 4,000.

    Similarly, among 40,0000 private buses plying in the state in pre-Covid days, the figure has decreased by 50 per cent, he said.

    A transport department official said the department had promised the bus operators they would consider their fare after Durga Puja-Diwali, and "We will assess it accordingly considering all factors."

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)