Ex minister criticises HP govt for 30 pc hike in bus fare

Former Transport Minister Kishan Kapoor today criticised the Himachal Pradesh government for hiking bus fare by 30 per cent, terming the hike as "anti-poor".
The hike will come into effect from October 1.
"99 per cent of the people in Himachal rely on public transport only and this hike can be a blow to them," Kapoor said in a press briefing here.
He said employees, elderly citizens and agricultural community will be the worst hit by the hike.
"Most of the commuters of the state travel within the 5 km radius to earn their livelihood. The increase in the bus fare from Rs 2 to 5 is a blow to them," he said.

"When I was the Transport Minister for 7 years, I increased the fare for 15 per cent only and reduced it when the diesel rate came down," Kapoor said.
He said BJP will keep pressing the government to roll back the bus fare hike.