A hike in the BEST bus fares was approved on Monday amid heated argument and opposition. However, the hike will come into effect only after the BMC passes a resolution in the House, which is seconded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Transport Authority. The fares have been hiked from a minimum of `1 to a maximum of `6 for ordinary and limited buses.
The proposal, which was tabled in October 2011, was approved in the BEST’s standing committee meeting.
The last fare hike was in September 8, 2010. However, it was not for all types of BEST bus services. On Monday fares of all types of services — ordinary, limited, express, air-conditioned super and air-conditioned fast have been increased.
Additionally, those commuters using BEST bus to enter or exit Mumbai limits will now have to bear toll fees by paying a rupee on and above the ticket charge.
“Since 2001, the BEST has paid `666.39 crore in several types of taxes like passenger tax, toll, motor vehicles tax, nutrition surcharge,sales tax and VAT, yet it has not received any aid from the state government,” said Dilip Patel, member of BEST and BJP corporator.
“The transport undertaking was to get an estimated `197 crore as income from the development of bus depots. This money has still not come in, if this is sum recovered, then there is no need for a fare hike,” reiterated Ravi Raja, who is an opposition member from the Congress.
The approval from the BMC is likely to come, as the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance will allow it to sail it through. It is likely that the hike will be implemented by the end of April, will help the BEST earn `150 crore annually.