Bus fare to be increased soon: Amunugama

• State Minister asserts there is no other way than increasing bus fares
• NTC will analyse industry views to amend bus fares
• Lanka Private Bus Owners Association say fares should be increased by 15%-20%
• All Island United Private Bus Owners Association says it will submit individual proposals to NTC; General Secretary faults Govt. for not inviting them for discussion 

Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Train Compartments and Motor Car Industry State Minister Dilum Amunugama yesterday said bus fares will have to be increased soon.

Following a meeting with representatives of private bus associations yesterday, Amunugama told journalists that there was no other option than to increase the fares.

The State Minister said that the National Transport Commission (NTC) Chairman Shashi Welgama has requested four more days to take the facts presented by the stakeholders into consideration and to provide their views on revising the fares.

“The Ministry will have to take steps to amend the bus fares after the NTC’s opinion on this with additional consideration of the passenger’s perspective and other reasonable factors. This will take time till next Wednesday,” Amunugama added.

Lanka Private Bus Owners Association President Gemunu Wijeratne said that 12 points were factored into compiling the price formula, adding that diesel is one such aspect, which one-third of the bus fares depend on.

“We will submit the relevant data to the NTC soon. We believe bus fares should be revised by about 15% or 20%, where the minimum fare would be Rs. 20,” he added.

Despite other bus associations agreeing on a price hike, they said they cannot trust the words of the State Minister until it is implemented.

All Island United Private Bus Owners Association Spokesperson Prasanna Vipalaguna asserted that to protect the industry, fares must be hiked by at least Rs. 25, noting that the associations will submit their individual proposals to amend fares in the next few days.

“The Commission that did not care to inquire into the well-being of stakeholders during the pandemic has no right to decide on the fares. We will decide on this too and the bus owners could operate with no more trouble,” he said.

Meanwhile, All Island Private Bus Owners Association General Secretary Anjana Priyanjan faulted the Government for not inviting their association for the discussion.

“We requested the Government for a diesel subsidy at least for the public transportation sector. However, the State Minister had only invited the associations they are comfortable making deals with,” he claimed.

He said over 10,000 buses are currently operating and they undertake between 18,000 to 20,000 journeys.