Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The Aurangabad Smart City Development Corporation Limited (ASCDCL), operating under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation, has announced a 20 per cent hike in smart city bus ticket fares, effective from April 16. According to a press release issued by the Smart City (Bus Division), the fare revision was necessary due to the rise in employee wages and the increasing cost of spare parts.
The city bus service began in 2019, and the current fare structure has been in place since 2022, the division claims. However, due to the rising costs of bus maintenance and spare parts, and a 40 pc salary increase for drivers and staff implemented in January 2025, the financial burden has significantly increased. As a result, there was no option but to raise the passenger fares.
With this 20 pc fare increase, the minimum ticket fare will now be Rs 6. Besides, instead of keeping fares in multiples of Rs 5, they will now be in multiples of Rs 1 to avoid issues related to giving change. This change has also been highlighted as a practical decision to improve passenger convenience.