The state government, which had proposed a hike of 50 paise in the minimum fare, has faced opposition from the bus owners’ associations who instead wanted the hike in the fare just above the minimum slab.

The bus owners are afraid that if the minimum fare is increased, then this may drive away commuters.

State Transport Secretary Sumantra Choudhury told the media that the issue has been discussed at Writers’ Buildings on Monday.

“After the recent hike in petrol and diesel prices, the bus owners asked us to increase the fares. We proposed that the price should be hiked from the first stage of the journey. But the bus owners refused,” he said.

According to the state government proposal, passengers will have to pay a minimum fare of Rs 4.50 instead of Rs 4 for private buses and Rs 5 instead of Rs 4.50 for mini buses. “A bus fare hike is not possible until this deadlock is resolved,” Choudhury added.