Kolkata, May 17 -- The recent hike in petrol and diesel prices has increased pressure on West Bengal's transport sector, with private bus operators warning of a worsening crisis and seeking government intervention to sustain public transport services.

Diesel prices in Kolkata rose to Rs 95.13 per litre after oil marketing companies increased fuel prices by more than Rs 3 per litre earlier this week. Private bus operators said the increase had sharply raised operational costs in a sector where fares were last revised in 2018, when diesel cost around Rs 68 per litre.

Transport associations said rising fuel prices, along with higher expenditure on spare parts, insurance, wages and statutory payments, had made operations financially unviable for many operators.

In a letter to the transport department, City Suburban Bus Service general secretary Tito Saha urged the government to review fares and address the financial stress faced by operators. The memorandum said committees on fare revision had been formed in 2020 and 2021, but no decision had been taken on their recommendations.

The letter described public transport as being in a "critical and sick condition" and warned that buses could gradually disappear from roads if viability issues were not addressed.

"We want to place all possible alternatives before the government. The government will decide what steps are needed for the betterment of the transport sector," Saha said.

Rahul Chatterjee, general secretary of the All Bengal Bus Minibus Samannay Samity, said the association would submit a memorandum to the chief minister and transport secretary next week seeking a reduction of the state cess on fuel as an immediate relief measure. "Several states have already reduced the state cess on fuel to bring some balance in prices. We hope similar steps will be taken here to give some oxygen to the passenger transport sector," he said.

Commuters expressed concern over any possible fare hike, saying public transport services in many areas remained irregular and overcrowded. Passenger groups said any fare increase should be accompanied by improvements in services and the availability of buses.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.