After the state transport minister, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, hinted that bus fares could be hiked soon following rise in fuel prices, bus owners are now divided over the propose rise in fare. All three major bus owners' associations have decided to send their proposals to the transport minister tomorrow. Two of these associations are opposing the fare hike fearing that they would lose passengers. Rest of the associations are going to demand legitimate fare hike to cover up the loss. Two of the associations, Bengal Bus Syndicate and Minibus Operators' Coordination Committee, have decided to demand that the government should supply diesel to the buses at a subsidised rate as it provides to state-run buses instead of hiking the fare. Mr Abasesh Dan of Minibus Operators' Coordination Committee said: "The government should provide diesel at a subsidised rate as it does to the state run buses. Or, the government should waive some sales tax from super type diesel just as it has given a tax waiver to the ordinary diesel. All buses with Euro-II and Euro-III emission system require super-type diesel, tax on which has not been waived. As a result, the super-type diesel costs Rs 30.10 a litre where the common diesel costs Rs 35.79 a litre after tax waiver.' "This is required because we would lose passengers if fare is hiked further. To save the trade, some relaxation on permit fee and other taxes apart from supplying diesel at a subsided rate are needed.We would send the proposal to the transport minister tomorrow,' he added. The Bengal Bus Syndicate also demanded sales tax on super type diesel be waived to cover up the loss of owners. "Fare hike is not the solution. If fare is hiked we would lose passengers. Tax waiver on diesel and profit sharing between the owners and the driver-conductors instead of commission system could only save the trade,' said Mr Swarnakamal Saha of the Bengal Bus Syndicate. Joint Council of Bus Syndicate would be demanding fare hike to cover up the loss. "We would send a letter to the minister tomorrow stating how our expenses have increased over the past three years and would demand a legitimate fare hike,' Mr Sadhan Das of the syndicate said. Meanwhile, state transport secretary Mr Sumantra Chowdhury at Writers' Buildings today said: "Though the owners demanded fare hike the government would have to face trouble implementing it. Till now, no solution has come out in the recently held meetings but the matter would be resolved soon.'