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by FACTOTUM

Private Omnibus Operators claim to have worked out a new scheme of fares that would be beneficial to commuters, the details of which have still to be publicised but there have been ominous announcements from time to time. Commuters are naturally all keyed up to learn of this novel strategy. In the past whenever there were fare hikes it was the cause of the bus magnates (to resurrect a word in vogue in the 1950s) that was pleaded. The

n, the issue of nationalisation of the omnibus services was a key issue. Bus magnates were known to have adopted the hire and fire system in which the tenure of service of employees was never secure. Profits were channelled into the political campaign of a favoured few and there was general agreement that it was in the best interests of workers and commuters to run an all-island centralised service by the State.

There were also visions of channelling huge profits into the national coffers to meet government expenditure in the public interest. That dream was never realised. In fact the Treasury was repeatedly burdened with a huge bill that the profits accruing from the services could hardly meet.

But, on the plus side employees were offered and assured better terms of service and some of them made more than a living by adopting various ruses to enhance their income which was at the expense of the centralised Board which in simple terms meant the poor citizen. The monopoly enjoyed in operating on routes old and new with rail services offering the only alternative for the mass of people dependent on public transport gave a free hand for the operations team to venture out on new schemes but it was known that the paid cadres were far in excess of the number required. It was argued of course in those circumstances that providing employment at a time when the economy could not absorb an increasing workforce was also a public service.

There were flying squads to swoop down on ticketless travel and errant conductors but the huge network of operations - the biggest single transport concern in the world - was large enough to provide haven to those who knew the devious routes to escape those who lay in ambush. One saving grace was that commuters were not called upon to cough out more, frequently. Whenever fare hikes were put into effect there was always the consolation that ours was still the cheapest transport service in the world.

Fares were compared although the state of the buses and the frequency of services maintained in other parts were seldom referred to. It was the commuters interests that were served and were uppermost in the minds of the policy makers then! The profit motive was never the criterion and soon visions of channelling profits for the common good were dispelled.

One thing that went with clock work precision if not running according to schedules was the despatch of a new fleet of buses to all parts of the country displaying the 'Sri' symbol that had replaced the English letters that made up the old name Ceylon. The change over to 'Sri' as events unfolded was a disaster, acting as a catalyst for forces to ignite communal passions. Now that a neutral dash has replaced what was a 'crab' to some tourists things are looking up for prospective operators in palmyrah country. That was a mild digression...

The package that bus owners have on offer for the benefit of commuters is our concern.

We have no doubt that the frequency of the services would ensure that there will be no need for standing passengers who have to hang on for dear life when the run becomes hazardous. If that is not on offer then there would surely be two bands of fare - one for sitting passengers and another for those less fortunate - standing. In that way the scramble for seats would be minimised with fewer seat takers.

Then, a two tiered fare scheme in those Inter City buses that have passengers teetering on jumping seats called upon to pay a smaller fare would be welcome. A return of part of the fare to passengers in those buses that claim to be air-conditioned but when such luxuries go on the blink in these humid days when commuters find themselves in a sweat and sticky would be another innovative and welcome measure. Such measures are sure to benefit the commuter and are no doubt on the cards as envisaged by the thoughtful operators who have always had the interests of the weary traveller at heart. Omnibus travel is sure going to be a pleasure then and the ever generous commuter would gladly pay up for the choices on offer.

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