Metro Bus Service fares increase from Rs20 to Rs40. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE: The metro bus authority issued an order to increase the price of tickets from Rs20 to Rs40, Express News reported on Tuesday.
The new fares will be implemented from March 26.
The authorities claimed they had made it clear, at the time of launch, that the fares will go up in a few months time.
When it was launched last month, the bus initially allowed commuters to travel free for a week. Thereafter, a fare of Rs20 was fixed. The authority on Tuesday said that this was an introductory price and was temporary.
At the time of launch Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had claimed that the bus fare will be kept within the reach of the common man.
Metro bus Service was launched on February 10. In the service 115 metro buses, with a capacity three times that of ordinary buses, run along a 27km corridor, from Gajju Matta to Shahdra, in Lahore.
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In india.bus ticket fare of metro buses are just 3rupees to maximum 25rupees 0.3 US cents/per kilometer .its worlds cheapest transport metro bus ticket price. And if travel by Brand New Mercedes-Benz & Volvo full AC Multi-Axle semi-sleeper for 200km its 400 indian rupees. Means for 20km = 40rupees.
Stop spreading misinformation!
@SHB
in Cleveland Ohio the minimum wage must be around 2500$.am i right?
@John the Baptist: Everyone knew there would be a trial period and that rates would be implemented in a short period- the grace period is over so why are people complaining? They do that in the West too when they want to introduce a new product or service. It's called a trial offer but people in Pakistan have no idea of what goes on in the rest of the world. Instead of appreciating that they are getting a world class project at a very reasonable rate, they want it for free or next to nothing. I can guarantee you people will keep taking the Metro Bus even if the fare was raised to 100 rupees because it beats anything else out there!
The announcement came too soon. It should have been the caretaker govt's fault not Sharif brother's shenanigans.
@Acorn Guts: For those less fortunate raise the minimum wage, not provide services at others expense.
In Cleveland ,Ohio USA the fare is $2.50. It is roughly Rs 250.00 It saves you the hassle of driving thru the rush hrs. Your wife or significant other can come to the bus stop to drop or pick you up.you enjoy the ride and scenery without any charge. These are the additional benefits of ride thru the bus.
Allow other buses to compete and then see the result. PMLN has closed all other buses on this route to make metro a success. Metro bus is a failed activity, which was prepared without a business plan/feasibility.
Rp 40 is feasible unless you want to travel the world for free.
@Muhammad Rohaan Sadiq: the track has been divied in three zones, from one zone to another fare has been increase... u are too ill informed about news btw
Right...charge the common man more so we can subsidize the MNAs, MPAs, PMs, Army officers and Presidents with more lifetime perks!
@Faisal: uff thnX God Some1 has replied me ... visit to chk the cost of this poject : http://tribune.com.pk/story/520296/clean-bill-metro-bus-contracts-transparent-says-ti/ ... n iff its so easy to tell abt IK's Source of income then y r u hesitating to tell me ? :(:( n BTW how the developed countries provide gr8 educational , judicial n health services ?? awww ur baffled answering this na :( leme tell u dts cx of better economy n the very basic unit of economy is infrastructure n transport ... u want us to have transport as karachits r having bcs of poor managment ?? its an investment which shall attract investors in near future ... hmm whats ur comments abt wastage of money on motorway ??? waiting for night of may 11th whn IK Shall say dt Election were Riggid :P
@truth:
We all know fares increase from time to time to keep up with inflation. But a 100% hike only four weeks after the service came into existence? Either the patrons of this project are INCOMPETENT and could not even calculate the correct demand and therefore fare structure or they are LIARS who knew what the usage will be and that it will not be possible to break even at Rs. 20--there is no other explanation. I suspect both to be true.
Usman Lateef: IK won't bother about what you charge as fare. Fortunately, his vision and dedication are much higher than nonsensical characters like you. Any sane man would agree with what IK says; in a country where millions of young children are out of schools, where judicial setup is incompetent, where there are almost no job opportunities for thousands of young people graduating from universities, spending of 70bn combined on one transportation project in one city merits criticism. Btw, IK doesn't have anything to hide about his source of income, you are talking about PTI not PML(N), you don't need to dig up the whole raiwind to find the register which keeps record about his source of income. You just need to visit PTI's page :)
@Bewildered Ticket price will be in 3 Phases(20,30,40). 40 for almost whole journey only
Started operations on 10 Feb 2013, reports of mismanagement immediately after inauguration, fare rise within 2 months. Looks like Metro Buses will be decommissioned after 11th May 2013 along with decommissioning of PML(N) from Punjab!!!!
@fari: Rs.60 for 27KM? Are you joking? Even in Islamabad it costs Rs.30 for this much distance. I thought metro was supposed to be used for common people.
@Sabih Shad: There is no point in subsidizing air conditioned buses. The entire project was a joke. 70 billion rupee advertisement campaign at the expense of the tax payers.
I dont understand why some people are trying to justify the fare increase to be good. I think this service is for poor then the fare shouldnt jump from 20 to 40 in month time.
How a common man see this fare increase
20 Rs per moth = 600 Rs 40 Rs per month = 1200 Rs
if they were spending 600 per month, now they have to spend 1200
@Muhammad Rohaan Sadiq: What eye opener? The Metro Bus Service continues to be appreciated by the majority of people and it has revolutionized transit in Lahore. We all were told that fares would be initially free and that they must then be raised commensurate with running an efficient system. People will continue to use because it is priced well and the service is exceptional. Just talk to people in Lahore before passing judgement.
It has to happen as this project was built and operated in rush without proper planning and sustainable approach. Even at Rs 40 it can't survive. Prices has to go up soon.
from gujjumatta to shahdra it is ok but one other stop to stop or from gujjumata to mozang or secretariat it should be rs 20
Finally a sane move!
We need to price these services properly so they become self sustaining.
I would like to see the usage data AFTER the price hike! Typical PML-N stunt; show right hand, hit with the left.
Literate countries have bus lanes which do the exact same thing with no cost. You just need to paint the last layer and use axis breakers which only allow buses to travel on them. How stupid do we think our people to be?
20 Rupees to 40 Rupees .... welcome to the reality Shahbaz Shareef!
Highly irrational decision. 40 Rupees fare for the full route of 27 km is not bad, but for short distance commuting, it is too much, especially when there is no inter-connecting service available for the off-route destinations.
I would suggest to bring it up to Rs50. Only this way metro bus system would be used properly & wont be a burden on Tax Payers money!
thats little too much, perhaps they see it to avoid rush in buses, but they should keep it low for poor. 25 or 30 rs. would have been enough.
Lets bring some buses and experience from us so to keep the fair down. Get our expertise for your metro bus project efficiency.
There is nothing wrong with this ...stupid people tend to forget wot was advertised fare at the launch of Bus service .. the actual fare that was proposed was 60 from end to end.... and fare breakdown structure was 20, 40 & 60 .... while the same journey on local transport cost abt 85 .. ..so all #LAMERS AND #COMPLAINERS must understand still now saving of 25-35 rupees mean a lot for abt 150'000 people who hv traveled on it since last 3-4 weeks..
good decision..40rs bus fare isnt much...its for genuine passengers..this will help in survival of this service in long run
@Sabih Shad: I don't see anything wrong with taxpayers contributing towards this transit system if it means those who are less fortunate and below the tax threshold can enjoy some much needed break.
Raise the fares and those who need this service won't be to afford it and those who could afford it won't need the service because they'd rather commute in their luxury cars .. basically end of the service with lots of taxpayers money in the smoke.
First it was supposed to be free....then it became a charged service and now the charges are being doubled.....in all honesty I would like to meet the feasibility makers of this project and have their opinion on this so called public service project which is fast becoming no less than a fiasco.
well that is why one needs to do a thing called feasibility report before starting any major project!
It is a nice project but currently not economically feasible . all this is done just in arrogant state of mind and for getting votes but seems like the latter cause will not be fulfilled, in fact it will have a negative effect!
Please keep the fares at a level high enough that the system car survive without taxpayer subsidies.
Ouch! I feel for the nation and the way their tax money is wasted and then it is projected as big favor to them!
Ooops! This was very bad timing from PML-N's campaign point of view...An eye opener for the people of Pakistan and the people of Lahore.