Diesel cess: TSRTC increases bus fare by Rs 3

Hyderabad: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has hiked the passenger fare by Rs three depending upon the distance.

TSRTC called it diesel cess and passed the burden on the passengers. Instead of a Rs 2 per ticket, this cess will be payable in slabs of Rs 5 from June 9 depending on the distance traveled.

Earlier on April 9, the Corporation levied a nominal diesel cess of Rs.2 per ticket in Pallevelugu and City ordinary services and Rs.5 per ticket in all other services irrespective of distance traveled.

"The long and medium distance passengers will be traveling for more distance when compared with City and Rural areas passengers and hence the cost on diesel will increase as per distance traveled. This being the case, the Corporation levied diesel cess at a flat rate on April 9 which could not cover the increased cost on account of increased diesel prices," said TSRTC.

The corporation added that it has become inevitable to levy diesel cess which will be more for passengers traveling more distance in our buses and less for passengers traveling for a short distance in our buses.

"The Corporation will be implementing the diesel cess in slabs of Rs.5 and above depending on the distance traveled by the passengers, in all types of services in Districts and long-distance services. In the case of Pallevelugu services, there will be no change in the minimum fare of Rs.10 so as not to burden the short-distance travelers. The additional diesel cess will be as follows depending on the distance traveled by a passenger," said TSRTC.

The Corporation buses use nearly 6 lakh liters of diesel each day and the price of bulk High-Speed Diesel(HSD) oil which was Rs. 84.75 per liter in December 2021 was increased to Rs.118.73 per liter in March 2022.

The Corporation said the cost of operation has also increased and it is not in a position to bear the same without levying additional diesel cess. The proposals to levy additional diesel cess and increase the Bus Pass fares for Students will help the Corporation recover only a portion of its operating costs.

Though the diesel cess in Greater Hyderabad limits is not increased, thus passengers traveling in city buses are not affected. Secondly, Students will be obtaining subsidized bus passes from the Corporation for their journey to Schools and Colleges throughout the State.

TSRTC ferries more than 30 lakh passengers and about 12 Lakh Students i each day across various destinations in Telangana and neighboring states.