Private bus, car tour operators mull levying a fuel charge

Tourist bus and car operators have proposed to levy a fuel charge on customers. What this essentially means is that fares could vary on a day-to-day basis, depending on the increase in fuel prices. This was decided at a meeting of various associations, on Saturday. The government too will be approached for its approval.

Over the past few days, there have been fuel price hikes every few days, which has fuelled this decision by bus associations. “We have decided that we will approach the government to allow us to levy fuel charges. It will be something where every rupee increase per kilometre will be calculated against the kilometres covered by the bus operator or car. We will approach the government for the same,” said Harsh Kotak, member, Mumbai Bus Malak Sanghatana.

This decision was proposed after the finding that over the last few days, people preferred to use their own vehicles instead of hiring private buses or cars. In the long weekend that just passed, private vehicle operators only got 60-65 per cent bookings, well below their expectation of more than 90 per cent. The primary reason for the weak demand is the rising fuel prices in the last few days. Tariffs for intercity buses went up by at least 2022 per cent for all routes, while the per kilometre rate for AC cars varies from Rs 1518 per kilometre, depending on the type and model of car and this too has increased. Now, a person will have to shell out Rs 75-100 more for a Mumbai-Pune AC bus ticket, which earlier cost Rs 350-400.

“We are contemplating adding fuel charges to the tariff. There is traffic on the road because of tourists leaving the city but these are mainly private cars.