By IANS,
Kolkata : The Bengal Bus Syndicate Friday demanded that the West Bengal government slash taxes on petroleum products to enable bus operators cope with the fuel price hike.
“We don’t want to increase bus fares. But we want the government to slash the taxes on oil so that we can cope with the fuel price hike,” said Trinamool Congress MLA and Bengal Bus Syndicate president Swarnakamal Saha.
Saha said the executive council of the bus syndicate will meet Saturday and decide on its course of action.
The central government Friday lifted controls on petroleum pricing and hiked the prices of diesel, kerosene, petrol and cooking gas in a major policy reform that will help improve its fiscal position and release funds for other programmes.
The government hiked the prices of diesel by Rs.2 a litre, kerosene by Rs.3 a litre and cooking gas by Rs.35 per cylinder. The prices of petrol will now be costlier by Rs 3.50 per litre.
Political observers feel the price hike will push up the price of essentials as well as transport fares.