Jaipur: Private bus operators in Rajasthan have urged the state govt to allow an increase in passenger fares, citing rising diesel prices and mounting operational costs that they say are pushing the sector into financial distress. In a letter addressed to the chief minister and the transport department, operators said bus fares in Rajasthan are lower than those in neighbouring states such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, despite continuous increases in fuel prices. The operators said that if the govt is unwilling to permit a fare revision, it should provide relief through a rebate in Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel. State president of the Bus Operator Association, Satyanarayan Sahu, said private bus operators were struggling to sustain services because of the sharp rise in diesel prices. He said the association had requested the govt to revise fares in line with rates prevailing in neighbouring states. The association also sought a diesel subsidy for stage carriage buses operating under schemes such as Gramin Seva, Lok Parivahan Seva and Up-Nagariya Seva. In the letter, operators said a subsidy on diesel should also be considered for machinery used by farmers in agricultural activities. They argued that such a measure would help poor farmers and labourers while also ensuring that private bus services remain financially viable. The operators warned that without govt support, many private bus services could face difficulty continuing operations, particularly on routes with lower passenger traffic and rising maintenance expenses.
