Higher bus fares from 5 January

• Minimum bus fare rises by Rs. 3 to Rs. 17, other category prices up by 17%
• State Minister Dilum Amunugama says price revision made after considering fuel price hike, hiring costs, depreciation on spare parts
• National Transport Commission will publish full list of revised fares based on the distance of every route, in 3 Jan. newspapers

Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry State Minister Dilum Amunugama yesterday said that the minimum bus fare would be increased from Rs. 14 to Rs. 17, whilst the other category prices would be up by 17% with effect from 5 January.

“The National Transport Commission (NTC) has received the revised bus fares for each section and category based on the pricing formula. The price revision was made after considering fuel price hike, hiring costs as well as depreciation on spare parts,” he told journalists.

The State Minister reiterated that the ticket price revision was only for transporting passengers at seating capacity, insisting that buses were still not permitted to exceed seating capacity and transport standing passengers.

Noting that they take no pleasure in increasing the bus fares given the high cost of living burden on the general public, Amunugama explained that it was unavoidable especially considering the multiple issues faced by the industry post-pandemic.

The State Minister further justified the decision stating that bus owners were even unable to repay their lease instalments, as buses were not operating for a long period due to health guidelines, whilst adding that recent fuel hike had pushed the industry to the walls.

“We have done the price revision with utmost difficulty with the least amount. Although the industry initially requested for a Rs. 25 minimum bus fare and other categories be increased by 20% to 25%, they later agreed with the current price revision,” Amunugama added. 

He said the NTC will publish the full list of the revised fares of every route and based on the distances, on 3 January national newspapers.