Bus fares hiked in Jharkhand

Private bus fares in Ranchi have been increased sharply in response to the continued rise in petrol and diesel prices, adding to the travel burden on passengers across the region.

Krishna Mohan Singh, President of the Ranchi Bus Owners Association, said operators had little choice but to raise fares as fuel costs had increased substantially over the past month.

"We have no other option but to increase the bus fares. We have increased it by Rs 10, Rs 20 and Rs 30 for a distance of 50 km, 100 km and 150 km respectively," Singh told reporters.

According to the association, diesel prices had risen by as much as Rs 10 per litre over the previous month. Fuel costs are a major component of operating expenses for private bus operators, along with maintenance, staff wages and other running costs.

The increase comes at a time when the price difference between petrol and diesel in Jharkhand has narrowed considerably. On Wednesday, petrol was priced at Rs 80.10 per litre, while diesel cost Rs 77.40 per litre, a gap of less than Rs 3.

The fare hike is likely to affect daily commuters as well as passengers travelling between Ranchi and nearby towns. For many residents who depend on private buses as an affordable mode of public transport, higher fares could increase their monthly travel expenses.

Bus operators, meanwhile, have argued that the revised fares are necessary to keep services financially viable amid rising fuel and operating costs.