A day after Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty met the leaders of the bus associations to list their demands, the state government held a meeting on Wednesday and announced a revised fare structure, something that the bus unions allege is unjustified.

“On Tuesday we met the state transport minister to voice our demands and non-acceptance of the previously announced fare structure. We had stated that the government needed to alter the fare structure. But they have not removed the faction cost of Rs 5.50 for 8 to 12 kilometres. We do not accept the decision of the government and we will protest,” said Swarnokamal Saha, president, Bengal Bus Syndicate.

The fare structure announced on Wednesday states the new fare will be Rs 4 for 0 to 4 kilometre, Rs 5 for 4 to 8 kilometre, Rs 5.50 for 8 to 12 kilometre, Rs 6 for 12 to 16 kilometre, Rs 7 for 16 to 20 kilometre and Rs 8 for 20 to 24 kilometre.

The bus unions had accused the government of filling their pockets by increasing the sales tax and unjustifiedly restructuring the fare chart. Though one of the demands — Rs 8 for 20 to 24 kilometre to remain unchanged — has been accepted by the government, the other demand of removing the Rs 5.50 fare faction to Rs 6 for 8 to 16 kilometres has not featured in the new chart.

“The form of protests will be decided on Thursday. The government has not accepted our demands and we will face losses due to that,” said Sadhan Das, president, Joint Council of Bus Syndicate.

With the bus associations dissatisfied with the fare chart, the city seems to be heading for another transport strike.

The transport minister, however, said: “We have accepted the demands of the bus unions and have structured the new fare chart in that way. Again in April we will sit for further discussions. The problem of change raised by the unions is a matter that we will take up with the Reserve Bank.”

“If the associations resort to token protests it is fine. But if major service disruptions take place then we will take necessary action,” he added.