To pare down the losses, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has effected 17 per cent hike in fare of city buses with immediate effect. Following the step taken earlier by Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), the Transport Department of civic body had sent a proposal seeking permission to increase the fares. Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Radhakrishnan B on Wednesday approved to increase the ticket rates.

The fares of city bus were more or less stable since last many years. However in backdrop of considerable rise in prices of diesel, and rising maintenance cost, rise in prices of fares, the Transport Department proposed an rational increase in ticket prices to cut down the losses. Over the last few years, the salaries of bus drivers and conductors has also saw significant rise and hence the increase in fares was necessary. But the biggest reason was massive jump in fuel prices, and in fact the switch over to CNG, the environmentally fuel, too proved to be futile as the prices of gas has also jumped significantly due to rising inflation.

So, for last few months there were talks about increasing the fares.

For travel from Sitabuldi to Hingna the new rates would be Rs. 39, to Khaparkheda-Rs. 50, to Koradi-Rs. 28, to Godhni-Rs. 24, Butibori-Rs. 44, Besa-Rs. 24, Gorewada-Rs. 19, J N Clinic (via Kanhan)- Rs. 50, Kamptee-Rs. 39, Pardia via Gandhibagh-Rs. 19, Bahadura Phata-Rs. 39, Pipla Phata-Rs. 28, Nara-Rs. 16, Nari-Rs. 19, Gidoba Mandir-Rs. 28, Sonegaon (via Deonagar)-Rs. 24 and Takalghat-Rs. 63.