COVID-19 crisis: Commuters paying fares through their nose

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: State government allowed private transportation with 50 percent of seat capacity. However, private transporters like buses, city buses, share taxis, e-rickshaws, etc have been charging fares more than 50-100 percent of their usual fares. The commuters have no way out but to pay through their noses.

The owners and drivers of private transports, on the other hand, say that they are incurring losses as they are allowed to carry only 50 percent of their seat capacity. To meet the expenses, including the fuel and wages, they are bound to increase the fare. A few commuters said that the minimum city bus fare has been increased to Rs 10 from Rs 7. E-rickshaw and share taxi fares have also been doubled, and fares of long-distance bus services have shot up by 50 percent.

Rajiv Saikia, a city resident who is a regular commuter of public transport, said that the sudden hike in fare is affecting the common people. Many passengers who were waiting for buses at the Guwahati Club bus stop said in unison that the district administration or the government must look into this matter.

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