Chandigarh, April 30- Haryana Government has decided to increase the Bus Fare in Haryana for Ordinary, Luxury, and Super Luxury buses from 85 paisa per passenger per km to Rs 1 per passenger per km to partially meet the increased cost of operation of buses from Rs 37.48 per km in June, 2016 to Rs 52.23 per km in December, 2019. This increase is much below the 25 per cent increase carried out in 2010-11 and 20 per cent increase carried out in 2012-13.

A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of State Cabinet which met under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal here today.

As per the decision, the ordinary/Standard Bus fare in the State would be increased from 85 paisa per kilometre to 100 paisa per kilometre upto a distance of 100 kilometres and 105 paisa per Kilometre for travel of more than 100 kilometres.

Even after this increase, the bus fare in Haryana shall continue to be less as compared to the neighbouring states of Punjab, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh where the bus fare per passenger per km of ordinary buses are 116 paisa, 116 paisa (plain)/180 paisa (Hilly), 112 paisa (Plain)/175 Paisa (Hilly), 106 paisa and 105 paisa respectively.

The Bus Fare in the State was last revised on June 30, 2016, raising the gross ordinary (standard) fare from 75.00 paisa/Passenger/km to 85.00 paisa /Passenger/km. Earlier, the bus fare had been revised on October 4, 2010 from 50 paisa per passenger per kilometre to 62.50 paisa per passenger per kilometre and again on December 13, 2012 from 60 paisa per passenger per kilometre to 75 paisa per passenger per kilometre.

Since the last revision of bus fare in Haryana, the operational expenditure has increased substantially especially on account of expenditure towards staff, diesel, spare parts, tyre-tubes, lubricants, Bus Chassis, bus fabrication cost, and insurance, etc. The expenditure per Kilometer has gone up from Rs.37.48 in June 2015 to Rs 52.23 in December 2019.

The increase in cost of operation is roughly to the extent of 40 percent. As a result of the increased costs, Haryana Roadways is operating with heavy losses and the loss in the current financial year has been to the tune of Rs. 726.21 Crore up to the month of January 2020 itself.

The State has also expanded the scope of welfare activities and there are 41 categories which are traveling on a free and concessional basis. Around Rs.375 crore is incurred to provide free/concessional traveling to the notified categories.

The Bus fare of other types of services includes Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Buses (new Class of vehicle type of service to be added in fleet of Haryana Roadways) would be increased to 150 paisa per passenger per kilometer, Intra-State Luxury Air-Conditioned Buses (The old Volvo/Mercedes buses are proposed to be plied intra-State long routes connecting Delhi and Chandigarh) Volvo / Mercedes would be increased to 175 paisa per passenger per kilometer and lastly Super Luxury Air Conditioned Buses. Volvo/Mercedes (Operating on Chandigarh-Delhi- Gurugram route) would be increased to 250 paisa per passenger per kilometer.

The minimum chargeable standard bus fare (including Passenger Tax) shall be Rupees Five. Freight for personal luggage shall be half of the standard/ordinary bus fare per Kilometer per 40 Kg. No freight shall be charged for personal luggage upto 40 Kg of weight. Fare for different stages of bus routes shall be rounded off to the nearest rupee.

Haryana Roadways is amongst the best run State Road Transport Undertakings in the country. At present, it has a fleet of around 4294 buses including 485 buses of Kilometer scheme, which is being operated from 24 depots and 13 sub-depots. Haryana Roadways buses operate around 10.38 lakh Kilometers on a daily basis and 9.65 lakh number of people commute on a daily basis.