On Thursday, 14 city-consumer activist organisations wrote to the PMPML board demanding a reduction in fares. “Now, there is no reason for the company to keep the issue on hold,” said Vivek Velankar, convener, PMP Pravasi Manch.

Consumer organisations have been in protest since September when the company increased the fares, terming that it is uncalled for. But once the diesel fares were cut in December, the protests intensed and activists called for a complete roll back.

“Then the company had said that they were waiting for the government to announce the second round of fare cuts. Now it has happened. There is no reason to delay. A decision on this regard should be taken in an emergency board meeting as soon as possible,” said Velankar.

The transfer of the then divisional commissioner also added to the delay.

RTA member Baba Shinde said that reduction of fares would be seen as a top priority and would be taken up in the next week. “We are having a meeting on Tuesday with the PMPML officers for another round of discussions on fare reduction.