Guwahati: The Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary stated that the All-Assam Motor Transport Association (AAMTA) can not increase the bus fare.
The statement by the minister came after the minister held a meeting with the transport association held today.
The minister told the group that they couldn’t raise the fare at all costs. “Their licences will be revoked if the association increases the bus fare.”
AAMTA had previously filed a memorandum to the government requesting a 70% rise in both city and inter-district bus prices.
The government has neglected to regard the wellbeing of transport employees, according to AAMTA General Secretary Prabin Das, while the prices of every other commodity related with their services have skyrocketed.
According to the AAMTA’s memorandum, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 2021, change to rule 47, went into effect on April 1, 2022. “This has resulted in increased taxes being assessed on transport owners,” Das explained.
It may be mentioned that “there has been a significant rise in prices of tyres, battery lubricant, spare parts of buses, etc, not to forget the regularly increasing fuel prices,” he added.
The memorandum further stated that the Government had failed to provide the necessary financial support to bus owners and workers who have received a massive blow during the past two years due to the pandemic.