HIKE IN BUS FARE COMPARATIVELY VERY LOW : TRANSPORT MINISTER
By bijender sharma
Jawalamukhi 24 Feb.-------Ever since the UPA Government has come into power at the Centre, the prices of diesel and other transport material have increased time and again during the last four years. Whereas the prices of diesel enhanced by 47%, of spare parts by 78% and due to increase of rubber prices, the prices of tyres and tubes have also gone up by 50%. Similarly the prices of mobile-oil have also gone up by 71% and prices of batteries have shown phenomenal increase of 119%. Due to the increase of steel prices, there has been upward expenditure of 25% in body building of buses resulting into a financial burden of Rs.80.85crore on HRTC. Though all this resulted in an overall increase of 75 per cent, even then the State Govt. hiked the bus fare by only 25 per cent keeping in view the interests of all the sections of the society.
Kishan Kapur, Transport Minister telling this here at Local Rest House today said during the tenure of previous Congress Government, the economic condition of HRTC was deplorable due to which the Corporation has liability of Rs.89.12crore. This includes Rs.27.61crore CC Limit availed by the Congress Government, Rs.2.97crore overtime dues of employees and Rs.27.58crore GPF which was not deposited besides the interest of Rs.11.38crore accrued on the principal. He said that previous Congress Government had not even deposited special road tax of
Rs.9.45crore and added that the Corporation had to bear an additional burden of Rs.63.65crore on account of the free and concessional transport facility being provided to various categories and bus service being given in the rural and remote areas.
He lambasted the leader of Opposition Smt. Vidya Stokes and other leaders for baselessly criticizing Government and added that the Congress Government was contradicting itself and criticizing its own Government which was in power at Centre. He said that State Government would reduce the increase in bus fares if the UPA Government withdraws the price rise of various commodities. He said that Congress Governments in Uttranchal, Haryana and Punjab had also made 73.65 percent, 50 percent, 46 percent and 49 percent respectively in 2005 and 2006.
Kishan Kapur said the Congress Government had also increased bus fares by 25 % in April, 03 and the increase was much less then the ratio of increase in price rise at that time. He said that Smt. Vidya Stokes and other leaders should shed their double standards and pressurize the center Government to bring down the prices of oil and other essential commodities. He also thanked the Congress party for opposing their own government at center.
Transport Minister said that the BJP Government was the Government of common man and the bus fares were increased under compulsion only and the interests of all the sections were safely guarded while taking the decision. He said that Government had decided to increase the fare by 25% only by keeping the public interest in view as more than 90% people of the State commute by buses. He said that the State Government was well wisher of the people and the congress party should pressurize its own government at center to bring down price rises.
Transport Minister said that Chief Minister had recently urged the center to start CNG buses in the State and he was the only Chief Minister in the country to initiate such a measure in his state.
He said that the criticism of the opposition regarding reduction in license fee on liquor was baseless as this step was initiated in order to check smuggling of liquor from other states and production of illicit liquor in the State.
By bijender sharma
Jawalamukhi 24 Feb.-------Ever since the UPA Government has come into power at the Centre, the prices of diesel and other transport material have increased time and again during the last four years. Whereas the prices of diesel enhanced by 47%, of spare parts by 78% and due to increase of rubber prices, the prices of tyres and tubes have also gone up by 50%. Similarly the prices of mobile-oil have also gone up by 71% and prices of batteries have shown phenomenal increase of 119%. Due to the increase of steel prices, there has been upward expenditure of 25% in body building of buses resulting into a financial burden of Rs.80.85crore on HRTC. Though all this resulted in an overall increase of 75 per cent, even then the State Govt. hiked the bus fare by only 25 per cent keeping in view the interests of all the sections of the society.
Kishan Kapur, Transport Minister telling this here at Local Rest House today said during the tenure of previous Congress Government, the economic condition of HRTC was deplorable due to which the Corporation has liability of Rs.89.12crore. This includes Rs.27.61crore CC Limit availed by the Congress Government, Rs.2.97crore overtime dues of employees and Rs.27.58crore GPF which was not deposited besides the interest of Rs.11.38crore accrued on the principal. He said that previous Congress Government had not even deposited special road tax of
Rs.9.45crore and added that the Corporation had to bear an additional burden of Rs.63.65crore on account of the free and concessional transport facility being provided to various categories and bus service being given in the rural and remote areas.
He lambasted the leader of Opposition Smt. Vidya Stokes and other leaders for baselessly criticizing Government and added that the Congress Government was contradicting itself and criticizing its own Government which was in power at Centre. He said that State Government would reduce the increase in bus fares if the UPA Government withdraws the price rise of various commodities. He said that Congress Governments in Uttranchal, Haryana and Punjab had also made 73.65 percent, 50 percent, 46 percent and 49 percent respectively in 2005 and 2006.
Kishan Kapur said the Congress Government had also increased bus fares by 25 % in April, 03 and the increase was much less then the ratio of increase in price rise at that time. He said that Smt. Vidya Stokes and other leaders should shed their double standards and pressurize the center Government to bring down the prices of oil and other essential commodities. He also thanked the Congress party for opposing their own government at center.
Transport Minister said that the BJP Government was the Government of common man and the bus fares were increased under compulsion only and the interests of all the sections were safely guarded while taking the decision. He said that Government had decided to increase the fare by 25% only by keeping the public interest in view as more than 90% people of the State commute by buses. He said that the State Government was well wisher of the people and the congress party should pressurize its own government at center to bring down price rises.
Transport Minister said that Chief Minister had recently urged the center to start CNG buses in the State and he was the only Chief Minister in the country to initiate such a measure in his state.
He said that the criticism of the opposition regarding reduction in license fee on liquor was baseless as this step was initiated in order to check smuggling of liquor from other states and production of illicit liquor in the State.
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