Imphal, February 15: With the State Government assuring to look into demand for revision of existing fare structure in view of increase in the price of Petrol and Diesel and fixed Rs 3 as the minimum bus fare, Manipur Transport Joint Co- ordinating Committee (MTJCC) has suspended with immediate effect the strike that began today.

A joint meeting of the office bearers of MTJCC and State Government representatives was held with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the chair at his office chamber this afternoon to resolve matter.

Transport Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Industries Minister N Mangi and MoS (Independent Charge) Rural Development Md Alluadin Khan, Director of Transport T Sitlhou and Deputy Director BK Sharma were also present at the meeting.

After a serious deliberation on the demand for revision of fare and freight charges, the meeting attendants signed a four point memorandum of understanding (MoU) on whose basis the transporters agreed to call off the agitation.

As per the agreement, the minimum bus fare has been fixed at Rs 3 instead of the existing Rs 2 at par with neighbouring States and the Government would examine for proper and justifiable revision of fare and freight charges as and when the cost of Petrol and Diesel oil and other cost index are increased remarkably.

Although the transporters have demanded for increasing the bus fare per 1 km by not less than eight paisa, it is learnt that the Government would be coming out with an official notification to increase the fare by six paisa within the next two days.

As the demand for hiking the fare of the buses plying in hill areas by at least 60 percent was not discussed thoroughly during the meeting today, it is said that the fare would be charged as per the decision of the people living in the concerned area.

It is informed that today's meeting also agreed to defer discussion of the demand for cutting down the number of working days in a year from 312 to 300.Meanwhile, MTJCC general secretary Ng Haridas said that the bus fare per kilometre which fixed at Rs 38 in the year 2002 when the price of Diesel fuel was Rs 18.07 has not been revised till date.

During this intervening period, the price of the fuel has been increased by Rs 7.70 and if the bus fare had to be increased according to the price of the fuel, then it should have been increased by not less than ten paisa per kilometre, he added.

On account of the cease work strike of the transporters, the volume of vehicular traffic on the roads of Imphal were considerably less today.

As the long distance passenger buses stayed off the road, people from far off areas were seen coming to Imphal in Jeep taxis and other smaller vehicles.

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