The School Bus Owners’ Association (SBOA) in Mumbai has announced a 15% increase in school bus fees for the upcoming academic year, effective from June. This decision comes after a week of unsuccessful negotiations with the state government to address their demands.
Reasons Behind the Fee Revision
While the recent surge in diesel and fuel prices is a contributing factor, the association clarified that the hike is driven by multiple operational costs. These include labour and bus crew salaries, vehicle maintenance expenses, and the rising cost of spare parts and consumables.
Anil Garg, President of SBOA, expressed concerns over frequent incremental revisions if diesel prices continue to climb. He stated, “We are against incremental hikes that may keep rising as diesel rates increase. If the government wants rates higher, it should announce one big hike so we can plan how to manage operational costs.”
Fuel Cost Burden
Garg further highlighted the immense fuel cost burden, noting that the state operates approximately 40,000 school buses, which consume nearly 1.2 lakh litres of diesel daily when running at full capacity.
The association hopes that this one-time revision will help stabilize operations without the need for repeated adjustments in the near future.
