Giving an excuse of increasing maintenance charges due to bad roads, the School Bus Owner's Association (SBOA) have decided to increase school bus fees by Rs 75 per month. This had put both schools and parents in tight a spot.
Increase in petrol and diesel prices have sparked unrest among transporters including school bus owners in the city and state. Hence the SBOA has proposed a hike by Rs 75 per month for per child.
Anil Garg, President, SBOA, said, "We have proposed fee hike of school buses from mid-term to school principals and trustees. The decision has been taken keeping in mind the increasing rates of fuel prices and the cost of maintenance and repairs work due to the bad road conditions in the city."
The SBOA said that pothole-ridden roads, metro rail construction work and traffic jams is stretching 30 minutes travel time to one hour and more, affecting the mileage of vehicles.
Parents Teacher's Association, United Forum, President Arundhati Chavan, said, "The SBOA should take parents into confidence if they have to increase the fees of school bus from the mid-term as it disturbs one's annual budget. Even the government is to be blamed for increasing fuel prices every now and then, affecting the lives of middle-class people."
Echoing the sentiments of Chavan, a parent and PTA member of a school, Rushab Patel, said, "The school buses have been facing the brunt of the increase in fuel prices since six months. Hence, either the government will have to bring down fuel prices or the schools will have to give the consent to increase school bus fees which will definitely pinch the pockets of middle-class parents."
