Kochi, Saturday 30 January 2010: Even as the common man groans under the burden of rising food prices, the state Transport ministry has dealt another body blow, with a proposed hike in bus fares.

The state Transport minister Jose Thettayil today announced the government’s intention to hike bus fares at an informal press conference in Kochi.

The minister said that the prices would be in keeping with the recommendations of the NATPAC report. The NATPAC is a state government-funded research unit. With regard to student bus fares the minister said that the government would take a final call on the same.

The minister also welcomed the observations of the Kerala High Court, earlier this week, stating that it was the government’s job to decide bus fares.

The minister added that the government was contemplating the creation of a transport regulatory authority, which would work out a speedy resolution of all transport-related issues. Earlier this month. private bus operators had gone on strike demanding a hike in bus fares. The strike was called off following the intervention of the high court.