Students concession fares to go up

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While student organisations consider that the minimum distance for  bus travel with student concession  will be the same as that for normal commuters, the fact is that it is a different one after the latest fare revisionAgainst the doubling of  distance  for minimum travel from 2.5 to 5 kilometres  for ordinary and  fast passenger buses,  the student travel facility with the retained minimum fare of  50 paise is left untouched for 2.5 kilometres.The notification which has been issued on bus fare revision clearly states that over and above the minimum distance of  2.5 kilometres,  additional 50 paise will be added to the minimum fare.The minimum fare of 50 paise will apply for the initial 2.5 km and for  the next two consecutive stages covering five kilometres,  another 50 paise will be added.In effect,  for travelling up to  five kilometres,  students will have to pay Rs 1. The only relief in the current revision is that concessional student travel has now been allowed in limited stop ordinary buses. The private bus operators are still insisting on an increase in concessional tariff rate for student travel,   even while deferring an agitation for next month on the issue. The UDF Government had given an undertaking to study the contentious issue in detail, while the final report of   the Justice Ramachandran committee on fare revision is expected on September 20.While private operators argue that the existing tariff is very low and the concession travel should either be regulated or  proportionately hiked,  student organisations as well as the government are of the firm opinion that the student concession tariff should be left untouched.