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Stakeholders propose slash of bus fares |
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Written by Daily News
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Thursday, 15 January 2009 |
The Surface and Marine Transport Authority (Sumatra) Consumer Consultative Council has proposed a 24 per cent reduction of bus fares, on grounds that fuel prices have gone done by around 28 per cent.
“Fuel prices have now gone down, so it is obvious that operating costs are also down, so it is fair now for bus fares to go down as well,” the Council’s Chairman, Mr Gillian Ngewe, told a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday. If the proposal is accepted, commuter bus (daladala) fares might drop to 228/- from 300/- for town trips at present.
The move would be a big relief following the recent decision by the government, through Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), to set uniform fuel prices which are lower than the rates earlier set by petrol stations.
Mr Ngewe said that the Council was asking for only 14 per cent reduction of fares due to decline of oil prices, while another 10 per cent slash was based on other factors. “The oil price decrease has led to decrease of several other costs directly and indirectly,” he said. “These include costs incurred for bus touts and casual drivers known as day workers,” he said.
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National 
