Akhilesh targets state government for raising bus fares

Hitting out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for raising the fare of road buses by about 24 per cent, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the state government appeared to want to cover the cost of hosting the investors' summit from the public's pocket.

The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) on Monday hiked the fare of regular buses by 25 paise per kilometre. “By increasing the bus fare by 24 per cent, the BJP government in UP wants to take out of the public's pocket the expenses for the investors' summit, knowing that even the previous investment has not yet come, and the next one will not come? ” Akhilesh said.

“The BJP, which nurtures the rich, has made inflation the fate of the poor and common people. Inflation will end only with the removal of BJP,” he said. An investor summit is scheduled in the state capital from February 10 to 12.

According to a notification issued by State Transport Authority Chairman L Venkateswara Lu on Monday, the maximum fare for UPSRTC general buses has been fixed at Rs 1.30 per passenger per kilometre. .

Before the hike, the fare was Rs 1.05 per passenger per kilometre.