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Officials said the fare increase has been done in such a way that there is minimal burden on regular passengers.
Commuters traveling up to nine kilometers will not see any increase at all, while those traveling between 10 to 60 kilometers will have to pay only Re 1 extra per journey. About 85% of passengers – about 10 lakh passengers who travel short distances every day – fall into this category.
The corporation also highlighted several initiatives taken in recent months. These include the induction of 1,475 new BS-6 buses, including sleeper, luxury, semi-luxury, super deluxe and mini buses, and the inauguration of 13 upgraded bus stations and depots, which will benefit about one lakh people daily, a release said.
To promote digital payments and reduce dependence on cash, GSRTC has introduced 3,000 smart electronic ticketing machines in buses in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Junagadh divisions, with 7,500 more devices set to be introduced soon.
Work is also underway to upgrade bus terminals across the state, with modern, airport-style facilities already operational in cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat, Bhuj, Mehsana, Palanpur, Bharuch and Amreli, the release said.
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Under the 2025-26 budget plan, the state government has proposed to add 2,060 more buses to the fleet. Recruitment is also going on, 2,320 conductors have already been appointed and there are plans to appoint 3,084 drivers and 1,658 assistants.
Despite the fare hike, GSRTC claimed that its fares were the lowest compared to many other states.
GSRTC, which operates over 8,000 buses daily and transports over 27 lakh passengers over 32 lakh kilometres, said it continues to work towards becoming self-reliant by providing affordable public transport.