RTSA yet to increase fares for long distance routes

Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has not increased bus fares for long distance routes, Principal Publicity Officer Mercy Mwila has said.

Mrs. Mwila disclosed that RTSA has not yet determined on the bus fare increament for all long distance routes in the country and urged commuters to be on alert not to be swindled by overzealous bus operators.

She said RTSA would soon hold a meeting with concerned stakeholders to discuss how much would be increased for all long distance routes.

Mrs Mwila assured the travelling public that the increase in bus fares for long distance routes would be would be fair to commuters.

“RTSA has not yet increased the fares for all long distance routes. Very soon, RTSA will sit with other stakeholders to determine how much the increase will be for for all long distance routes”, said Mrs. Mwila.

And Mrs. Mwila said the K300 increase for intra city routes which was announced by the Lusaka bus operators Committee was agreed by all stakeholders during a meeting.

She said initially, bus operators had demanded a K400 increase but RTSA felt this amount would not be fare to commuters resulting into a K300 increase in bus fares.

Mrs Mwila revealed that the K500 increase which was announced by Copperbelt bus operators was illegal because no meeting was held to come up with that figure.

She directed that K300 increase for Lusaka intra city routes would also apply to Copperbelt bus operators and would come into effect today.

ZANIS