Chandigarh, September 7 (PTI) — The Punjab Transport Department has raised the fare for ordinary buses by 23 paise per kilometer due to the recent rise in fuel prices. This increase follows the state government’s recent decision to hike VAT on petrol by 61 paise per liter and on diesel by 92 paise per liter.
According to a notification issued on Saturday, the fare for ordinary buses has been adjusted to 145 paise per kilometer per passenger. For HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) buses, the fare has been increased from 28 paise to 174 paise per kilometer per passenger. This adjustment is expected to generate an additional revenue of ₹150 crore for the state.
However, the fare hike will also increase the financial burden on the state bus services, which offer free travel to women. It is anticipated that compensation claims for this service will rise by approximately ₹50 crore annually. This fare increase comes just two days after the state raised VAT on petrol and diesel and withdrew a ₹3 per unit electricity subsidy for consumers with loads up to 7 kilowatts.
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