Guangzhou's bus group is considering a fare hike on 52 bus routes to make up for extra government fees for buses operating in new urban districts, which are expected from July.

The provincial transport authorities issued a notice late last year requiring road user fees and passenger transport additional fees be charged from July 1 on buses running between newly urbanized districts.

A total of 688 buses from 10 bus companies will each have to pay at least 22,176 yuan (US$2,684) in passenger transport fees and 6,000 yuan in road user fees annually from July.

Buses operating on urban routes often don't have to pay such fees because they travel on civil roads that are built, maintained and funded by governments. Urban buses are also considered to be a public service.

Intercity and suburban buses use roads built by multiple investors and are generally categorized as profit-oriented.

Roads in Huadu, Panyu, Conghua and part of Baiyun were funded by various investors, who had the right to recollect their investment, the provincial transport authorities said.

Many residents suggest the city's government provide a solution to the problem, since it came up during the process of urbanization.

The city's pricing bureau said Tuesday it had not been told about any price rise. It said the government would investigate any situation carefully before deciding to subsidize the bus company, let the bus company shoulder the extra cost or allow a price hike.

(Shenzhen Daily April 28, 2005)