Maharashtra Congress Demands Immediate Reversal of ST Bus Fare Increase
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Synopsis
The Congress party in Maharashtra is demanding the immediate reversal of a 15 percent fare hike for state transport buses, citing poor management and rising inflation, while also addressing public health concerns related to Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
Key Takeaways
- Congress opposes ST bus fare increase.
- Calls for immediate revocation by the government.
- Criticism of mismanagement in ST Corporation.
- Concerns over public health and GBS outbreak.
- Allegations of corruption within the ST Corporation.
Mumbai, Jan 28 (NationPress) The Congress party has vehemently opposed the 15 percent increase in fares for state transport (ST) buses implemented last week, urging the Maharashtra government to revoke this decision immediately.
“The BJP-led government, which made numerous promises to the public during the Assembly elections, has started to exploit the people as soon as it took office. Already struggling with inflation, the government has further burdened the common man by raising ticket prices for the ST buses, the lifeline of the state, by 15 percent. This increase must be retracted,” stated the state Congress president Nana Patole.
Patole highlighted that while ST bus services reach every corner of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has failed to deliver adequate services.
“The mismanagement within the ST Corporation has caused significant suffering among passengers in the state. In rural regions, the condition of the ST buses is appalling, with even the Shivshahi buses introduced under the scheme being in poor condition. Despite the government's failure to provide satisfactory services, they have raised fares by 15 percent citing inflation. If Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik claims ignorance of this fare hike, then why does he still hold his position? It is shocking that the Minister is oblivious to the issues in his department. Officials who made this decision without consulting the Minister should face suspension,” he elaborated.
Patole further remarked that the Minister, who professes to be unaware of the fare hike decision, appears to be more focused on transferring the ST Corporation's 1,360 hectares of land to developers.
“The ST Corporation has turned into a corruption hub, and eradicating this corruption would negate the need for a fare increase,” he charged.
In the meantime, with a rise in cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the state leading to one fatality so far, Patole urged the public health department to take immediate action to prevent the spread of this disease and raise awareness through necessary precautions.
“The state government must mobilize resources to combat the outbreak. Contaminated water and unsanitary conditions are believed to trigger this disease. After 11 years of campaigns like “Har Ghar Nal, Har Nal Mein Jal” and “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,” if clean water remains unavailable, one must conclude that these initiatives exist solely in advertisements,” he asserted.
