THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the KSRTC deciding to resume services of all buses from January onwards, the government is planning to reduce bus fares in the state. The government will approach the Justice Ramachandran Commission in January to look into the extent to which the current rate can be reduced. New rates will be determined based on this report.

At the same time, the Department of Transport has stated that when the bus fare is revised, it will not go back to the rates before last June. The new rates are expected to be 10-15% higher than before June, considering the hike in diesel prices.

The 25% increase in fares was implemented on June 2 last year when the number of passengers on buses had to be reduced to meet the Kovid norms.

KSRTC has decided to launch all buses from January 1.

The fare was hiked in June by maintaining the ordinary minimum charge of Rs 8. The minimum chargeable distance was reduced from five kilometres (two fair stages) to two and a half (one fair stage). The kilometre rate was increased from 70 paise to 90 paise. Fares for superclass buses were increased by 25%.

When services resumed after the lockdown, buses from Superfast and low-floor AC buses were given a 25% discount on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to attract more passengers on long-distance buses. KSRTC estimates that the number of passengers has increased since then.