Guwahati: The All Assam Motor Transport Association (AAMTA) has formally requested the commissioner of transport to implement a minimum 70% increase in public transport fares, attributing the demand to the recent surge in petrol and diesel prices. The last fare revision occurred in 2019, when the state government approved a 25% hike. According to the association, diesel prices have risen by over 45% since 2019, compelling this urgent appeal.
Chief Minister's Response
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the issue on social media on Sunday, stating, “There have been hikes in petrol and diesel prices in the last couple of weeks owing to the West Asia conflict. This has left common people facing difficulties. India imports around 90% crude oil from Arab countries, Russia, America, and Venezuela. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been constantly trying to minimise the suffering of the common people. Not only in India, the petrol and diesel prices have gone up in almost all the countries.”
Association's Perspective
Association president Pradeep Das emphasized that no fare hike has been demanded since the 2019 revision, despite fluctuating fuel prices. He noted, “In 2019, the diesel price was over Rs 66 per litre, and now it has gone up to over Rs 97 in Guwahati. There has been an Rs 8 hike in diesel price in the last month. In this situation, bus and cab owners are finding it difficult to continue their services and run their families. This has compelled us to write to the commissioner of transport for consideration of revision of fares.”
Currently, bus commuters pay Rs 10 for travel up to 3 km, and Rs 30 for distances up to 25 km. In 2019, the government approved an additional Rs 2 per km per passenger for long-distance buses, which remains in effect. Das warned that owners may have to halt services if fares are not revised in light of the fuel price hike.
