Exorbitant hike in bus fares creates troubles for commuters

Guwahati: The prices of the bus fares have been hiked exorbitantly ahead of the phase three of Lok Sabha polls which will be held on April 23. As most of the buses have been requisitioned for the election, commuters have to face heavy troubles as there is no bus in the city to travel around.

Buses and trackers are in very less number in the city for which they have taken advantage of it by hiking the fares. Commuters left stranded in bus stoppages and also in Jalukbari who are expected to go to their homes to exercise their franchise.

The buses are so overcrowded that it becomes difficult for the commuters to get in or get down from the bus and taking advantage of it, the fares have been hiked exorbitantly by the conductors. In the city, where the minimum fare is Rs. 7 for 5 kilometres, people are paying Rs. 10 for this 5 kilometres. One of the passengers, Haren Das said, "I always travel by bus from Christian Basti to Ganeshguri and the bus fare is Rs. 7 but today they have taken Rs. 10 and when I argued with the conductor they said they can't return the change and if we want we can get down from the bus. This is the kind of behaviour of the conductor today and they have taken the advantage of non-availability of public transport as most of the vehicles have been requisitioned for the election. We also don't have an option rather pay more and travel."

Moreover, the fares of line buses which travels to other parts like Nalbari, Rangiya, Barpeta etc. from Guwahati are also charging high fares from the passengers. One of such passengers, Rita Das said, "I work in a private company here in Guwahati and today I am going to my hometown Barpeta to cast my vote. But the buses are so overcrowded that it becomes difficult for most of the commuters to travel. And also, the conductors said before getting into the bus that they will take double fares from the passengers. When we argued they said that it's up to us whether we travel or not but will have to pay double the actual fare if we get into the bus. Now I am thinking about whether I should go to cast my vote or not. The government says that we should exercise our franchise but if this is the scenario then how can we go and cast our vote."

She further said that the government should think the alternative before they requisitioned the buses as this is a harassment for the public.

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