Assembly adjourned over fare hike

Assembly adjourned over fare hike
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NAGPUR, NOV 30: The issue of hike in the fare of state transport buses going to Konkan region for the Ganesh festival rocked the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today as Shiv Sena-BJP opposition members created noisy scenes, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house for 15 minutes.

Transport Minister Shivajirao Moghe was pulled up by the Sena-BJP members over ``one sided additional hike''in the fare for the buses going to Konkan for the Ganapati festival.

Replying to questions by Dagdu Sapkal and others, Moghe said the hike was effected because the buses which go to Konkan from different parts of Maharashtra for the festival, return practically empty, thereby causing considerable losses to the State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).

The Sena members then went near the podium of the speaker Arun Gujarathi and shouted slogans against the government demanding that the bus fare hike should be withdrawn immediately as it was highly discriminatory.

The Sena members were also supported by the BJP members. Sensing the mood of the members, the speaker adjourned the house for 15 minutes.