City bus fares rise by 40% in Dhanbad

DHANBAD: In a move which registered sharp protest from passengers, city bus fares in the district witnessed an increase by around 40% from Tuesday.

The manager of Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC), Dhanbad unit, NK Singh, said the revision in fares was due for a long time since the services were launched in 2010.

City buses ply on five routes in the Coal Capital and there has been an increase of ` 4 to ` 7 in the fares. Also, fare for travelling in the city has gone up to ` 5 from ` 3.

However, Singh said, despite the hike, the bus fare is still cheaper in comparison to autos, trekkers and private buses. Fares of city buses plying in Ranchi and Jamshedpur have already been increased earlier.

Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), city bus service was

CITY BUSES PLY ON FIVE ROUTES IN THE COAL CAPITAL AND THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF

` 4 TO ` 7 IN THE FARES

launched in Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur in 2010. Dhanbad was given 65 buses out of 100. But at present, only 15 buses ply on the city roads while five ply in Deoghar district. The remaining vehicles have lying defunct.

Meanwhile, on the first day the abrupt hike in fares evoked a strong protest from the commuters. “The central government launched the service for poor people who cannot afford commercial transport. But JTDC has made the fare at par with autos and trekkers,” Katras resident and student of PK Roy Memorial College Harendra Singh said. Singh depends on the city bus service for coming to college daily.