YSR Congress to hold protest on Oct 26 over bus fare hike

HYDERABAD: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) today termed as "very harsh" the hike in fares effected by Andhra Pardesh State Road Transport Corp ( APSRTC) and warned of protest on October 26 if the decision is not rolled back by tomorrow.

The Opposition party would picket all bus depots in the State on October 26 if the APSRTC does not roll back the fare hike by Sunday (October 25), party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu told reporters here.

The decision to organise `dharnas' was taken as per the direction of YSRCP President Jagan Mohan Reddy, he said.

"The (fare) hike of 10 per cent is very harsh on the people and the party would hold `dharnas' at all bus depots in the 13 districts if the Government fails to roll back the hike by tomorrow," he said.

The state-run transport undertaking yesterday hiked passenger fares by up to 10 per cent which came into effect from midnight last night.

The Government recently allowed the APSRTC to hike fares so that it could tackle the financial burden that widened after 43 per cent rise in wages of employees.