Private bus and minibus owners in West Bengal have submitted a fresh proposal seeking a Kolkata bus fare hike, including a minimum fare of ₹18 for the first four kilometres on ordinary buses. The proposal was sent to Transport Minister Arjun Singh by the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, which said the sector was facing sustained losses after years without an officially approved fare revision.
According to the letter, the proposed fare for ordinary buses in Kolkata would rise to ₹20 for journeys between four and six kilometres, ₹22 for six to eight kilometres, ₹24 for eight to 12 kilometres, ₹26 for 12 to 16 kilometres, ₹28 for 16 to 20 kilometres and ₹30 for 20 to 22 kilometres.
The association has argued that bus fares have not been officially increased in the state since 2018. Its letter said the financial pressure on private operators had intensified after the coronavirus pandemic because of higher fuel prices, maintenance expenses and other operating costs. The submission was signed by the organisation’s general secretary, Tapan Bandyopadhyay.
The bus owners also referred to a nine-point memorandum submitted to the Transport Department on September 14. According to the report, the department had then indicated that the government would consider the fare issue after Durga Puja. The latest proposal was submitted after Lakshmi Puja, following the earlier indication that discussions would begin after the festive period.
For buses operating in districts, the association has proposed a minimum fare of ₹20 for the first four kilometres, followed by ₹1.20 for every additional kilometre. It has sought a minimum fare of ₹25 for the first four kilometres on express buses, with an additional ₹1.50 per kilometre. The proposed minimum fare for ordinary air-conditioned buses is ₹40 for the first four kilometres, while Volvo buses would charge ₹50 for the first two kilometres.
The association has also called for a prompt revision of minibus fares in Howrah, Durgapur, Asansol, Malda and Darjeeling, including hill and district routes. It said buses are operational for an average of only 270 days a year, while owners continue to bear daily expenses such as fuel, staff salaries, police-related costs and tyre charges. Loan instalments, road tax for three months, annual fitness certification and insurance were also cited in the letter.
The state government has not yet publicly responded to the proposal. The report cited officials in the Transport Department as saying that, even without formal approval, some private operators were already charging a minimum fare of ₹15 and up to ₹18 depending on distance. The department is aware of the practice, the report said, and the minister is expected to take a decision after examining the prevailing situation.
The officially notified minimum bus fare in Kolkata remains ₹7. The fare dispute has previously reached court, where the state told the court in an affidavit that the official minimum fare was ₹7 and that it was not aware of higher fares being collected. After the pandemic, bus owners had reportedly begun charging a minimum of ₹10 on their own, although the government did not formally revise the fare. The next step is a government decision on whether to accept, modify or reject the latest fare proposal.
