THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is all set to reduce bus fares in the state in the wake of congestion on KSRTC buses. The government will approach the Justice Ramachandran Commission in January to look into the extent to which the current rate can be reduced. New rates will be determined according to this report.
However, the Department of Transport has said it will not go back to pre-June fares when the bus fare is revised. The new rate is expected to be 10-15% higher than before June, including a hike in diesel prices.
The 25% increase in fares was implemented on June 2 last year when the number of passengers on buses had to be reduced to meet the Covid norms. Now, with the increase in the number of people relying on buses, it has also been allowed to travel.
KSRTC has decided to launch all buses from January 1. The fare was hiked in June by maintaining the ordinary minimum fare of Rs 8. The minimum chargeable distance was reduced from five kilometers (two fair stages) to two and a half kilometers (one fire stage). The kilometer rate has been increased from 70 paise to 90 paise. There was also a 25% increase in the fare for superclass buses.
