28 October,2016 08:16 AM IST | | Pallavi Smart
The bus association claims that come December, it has to hike fees for students in areas with toll nakas, as state has refused to exempt them from paying toll
The association plans to introduce the hike once schools reopen. File pic
The school-bus service providers have a Diwali gift for those living in areas across toll crossings: a Rs 300 fee hike. Once schools reopen in December after Diwali vacation, the hike will come into effect. Reason? The association is upset that the state has not accepted its demand to exempt school buses from toll payments. However, schools and parents are crying foul as no fee can be increased in the middle of the academic year.
Far-flung commuters
Bus service providers from areas such as New Mumbai, Mulund, Dahisar had requested the state government from exemption from toll, but their demand was not accepted. According to the association, this adds burden on the bus contractors. So, to tackle the deficit, the contractors have decided to increase the fees for students.
Anil Garg, president of the School Bus Owners Association, said, "Contractors are facing a loss of Rs 13,700 every month over toll payment. We kept waiting on assurances by this government; now we are left with no option but to increase fees. This hike will be in the areas where tolls have to be crossed which are in Navi Mumbai - Vashi, Turbhe, Mulund, Dahisar, among others."
Parents cry foul
Parents, however, see this as yet another excuse to hike fees. Jayant Jain, president of Forum for Fairness in Education, insisted, "There is no way that any fee can be increased in the middle of the academic year. According to the Fee Regulation Act, for any fee-hike, Parent-Teacher Association's (PTA) approval is necessary and all fees should be finalised before the new academic year begins."
Kamini Sawant, a parent from Mulund, said, "It is not that they suddenly have to pay tolls now. They are putting parents in a difficult position by introducing such a fee hike in the middle of the academic year. Who will look for alternative arrangements at this juncture?"
Uday Nare, spokesperson for the Shikshak Bharati, said, "There aren't that many toll nakas in Mumbai. Once the association applies this hike, all contractors will consider it a blanket rule. This is exploitation of parents."
