PUNE: The fares of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) buses will go up by Re 1 in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal limits from Wednesday. For those travelling outside municipal limits, will have to pay Rs 2 over the existing fare.

The Regional Transport Authority ( RTA) on Tuesday approved the hike on a proposal submitted by the PMPML board last week.

PMPML officials said the hike was imminent due to hike in prices of diesel. For bulk consumers, including public transport undertakings, the cost per litre of diesel has increased from Rs 52.1 (in mid-January) to Rs 67.37 from March 1 onwards.

The minimum fare will remain at Rs 5. From stage III onwards, it will increase from Rs 8 to Rs 9 and so on. The hike will come into effect from Wednesday and will be the second in last six months.

People living in fringe areas, i.e. outside the municipal limits of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, will be severely affected as the PMPML increased fares by Rs 2. For the first time, a different fare structure has been applied for transport to fringe areas. The PMPML provides its service on 98 routes outside the limits of Pune and Pimpri Chincwhad. The PMPML says this hike is on the lines of the bus fare structure of Mumbai's Best. The PMPML will make an additional Rs 13 lakh from it.

Meanwhile, commuters' groups have opposed the hike saying that the PMPML's fare is already the highest in the country. This will encourage people to buy their own vehicles, which will add to traffic chaos, the activists argued.

SURAT: Few cars are parked in the multi-level pay-and-park facility built on the Rs 100 crore land just behind the textile market on the Ring Road. It has been converted into a kennel by stray dogs and a shelter by labourers. Thousands still continue to park their vehicles on the roads there.

Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) built the Science Centre in City Light, a posh area with sufficient underground parking facility. However, people have not shown much interest in this facility too. At least 40 cars can been seen parked daily outside the compound on the main City Light Road.

Surat is one of the most developed cities in the country but it doesn't have a viable parking policy.

"The prime reason is lack of coordination between traffic police and SMC," said Kanti Bhanderi, chairman of the Town Planning (TP) committee of SMC.

A traffic cop is scared to touch a two-wheeler at Mini Bazaar in Varachha but would two away a vehicle from Ghod Dod Road for parking in a 'No parking' zone.

"You can't have different rules for different areas. Rules should be same be it Varachha, City Light, Ghod Dod Road, Kumbhariya or Katargam," Bhanderi said.

Rajesh Pandya, parking in-charge, SMC, said, "We need to quickly formulate a parking policy for the city to end this chaos."Municipal commissioner Manoj Das said, "The number of multi-layer parking facilities will have to be increased. We are making a provision for it in the new detailed project report."