By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 31, 2017: Odisha government has increased the passenger bus fare with effective from October 28 in the wake of of the proposed strike by the Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association.

Commuters will now have to cough up more while travelling in bus. As per the new rates notified by the Commerce and Transport Department, the ordinary bus fare has been raised from 60 paise per km to 64 per km whereas in express bus category, it has been hiked from 64 paise to 67 paise per km.

Similarly, the deluxe bus fare has been increased by five paise from 84 paise to 89 paise whereas the AC deluxe fare went up to Rs 1.11 from the existing Rs 1.05 paise, a six paise hike. In these two slabs, the minimum fare will be Rs 13.

Incidentally, the hike in the fare of the bus has been effected for the first time in last two years. In 2015, it was decided to take into account 12 parameters except diesel price to consider bus fare on a fortnightly basis. This time, it will be done on a monthly basis.