Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has said the bus fare hike was inevitable as the State-run transport corporations were in financial crisis.

He told reporters here today along with Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam that the opposition was instigating protests across the State. He also pointed out that the previous DMK regime acquired loans to the tune of Rs 3,392 crore in transport corporations.
‘Other States such as Kerala and Karnataka gradually hiked fares, but we have not been doing that. We increase rates on a long term basis and the employees get a pay hike once in three years. We see transport as a service and not to make profits. Even after the recent price hike, we will be facing a loss of Rs 4 crore daily. Diesel and spare parts prices have become higher,” he said.

Compared to other States, Tamil Nadu had a huge fleet of buses, nearly 22,000, while Andhra Pradesh had 11,000, Kerala 6,000 and Karnataka 8,000. During the DMK regime, the price of diesel was Rs 43.10 and now it was Rs 67.23, he said.

Also, the government on Sunday reduced the fare hike by maximum extent possible, he added.