Mumbai

Facing rising fuel prices and higher employee costs, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to continue the 10 per cent seasonal fare hike on its ordinary bus services for another month.

In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, MSRTC said the existing enhanced fares will remain in effect till midnight of July 15.

MSRTC introduced a seasonal fare hike on April 15 to augment revenue during the summer travel season, which was scheduled to end on June 15.

The state-run transport undertaking further said the extension was necessitated by the financial burden of higher fuel prices and increased employee benefits expenditure.

Under the revised arrangement, the stage fare for ordinary and midi bus services will continue at Rs 11.05 per stage. The minimum fare will remain unchanged at Rs 14 for adults and Rs 7 for children.

State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik recently announced a five per cent hike in the dearness allowance (DA) for MSRTC employees to 58 per cent, bringing it in line with the DA received by state government employees.

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MSRTC is the second biggest public transport corporation in India, with a fleet of more than 15,000 buses. Around 55 lakh passengers travel on ST buses every day.