The previous four distance slabs of 0-4 Km, 4-12 Km, 12-16 Km and 16-30 Km have been replaced by five new slabs of 0-3 Km, 3-6 Km, 6-10 Km, 10-16 Km and 16-30 Km.

The government said that it has hiked the fare of each slab by Re 1 and for the fifth stage (16-30 Km) one has to pay additional Re 1 for every three kilometres travelled.

Though it may sound a minimal hike of Re 1 but the travelling cost has multiplied many times more.

For example, take the case of Shilpi Chakraborty, a college-goer. Everyday she has to travel from her home near Bijon Setu to Hazra for attending college. The distance between the two places is 4 kilometres. “Earlier, I paid Rs 4. But after the hike, I was charged Rs 7. I had thought that I would be pay an increased fare of Rs 5,” said Chakraborty.