Transport businesses still "struggle" not to increase fares

(Baonghean) -After 90 days of "holding out" to ensure stability in the domestic petroleum market, from 8:00 p.m. on March 28, the retail price of gasoline increased by a maximum of 1,430 VND/liter, diesel increased by a maximum of 350 VND/liter... Although the price increase was predictable (because the world petroleum market is always complicated), consumers are still upset because the retail price of gasoline and oil has increased too high. To keep customers, transportation businesses still have to "struggle" not to increase fares.

At the Hung Binh petrol station, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga - Hung Phuc ward complained: "This time the petrol price increase is high, but because I often have to travel by motorbike, I have to accept buying petrol". At the petrol station on Le Hong Phong street, people all complained that the petrol price is too high. It is known that at the petrol station on Le Hong Phong street, which has the largest consumption volume in Vinh city, customers still come to buy petrol in large numbers. Before the store received the decision to increase the retail price of petrol, it sold 23,000 liters per day and when the new selling price was implemented, RON 95 petrol was 25,550 VND/liter, RON 92 petrol was 25,040 VND/liter, 0.05 S diesel was 22,230 VND/liter... the volume of petrol sold was still stable.

Hung Binh gas station - Vinh city is always crowded with customers.

Despite being under great pressure due to the increase in gasoline prices, transport enterprises still have to take all measures to temporarily accept not increasing fares to attract customers. Mr. Vu Hoang Huynh - Head of Vinh Bus Station, said: "At Vinh Bus Station Enterprise, there are currently 800 passenger transport vehicles on the North - South and intra-provincial routes, but up to now, enterprises and vehicle owners still maintain ticket prices as before the increase in gasoline prices. Because at the present time, the number of passengers is low, if the ticket price is increased, it will be difficult to "stimulate demand", so we have to save other costs to not increase passenger transport fares at this time". Mr. Tuan (in Le Mao ward), a Van Xuan Taxi driver, said: “The fare for the first kilometer of a small 4-seat Matiz is 10,000 VND/km and 10,600 VND for the second kilometer... this price has been stable for more than a year. The increase in gasoline and oil prices while the transportation fare does not increase will greatly affect the income of drivers and businesses, because the cost of gasoline and oil increases, the discount rate will decrease...”. Through the operation center of Van Xuan Taxi, it is known that the business has 4 types of vehicles with more than 200 vehicles using a large amount of gasoline every day, but after this price increase, the company has decided not to adjust the fare.

Mai Linh Taxi currently occupies a large market share in transportation and taxi business in Nghe An. To ensure the interests of customers, Mai Linh Taxi also has a policy of keeping the old fares, that is, for small 4-seat cars (Matiz cars), the price for the first 25km is 10,800 VND/km, 4-seat cars of Vios Limo type are 12,400 VND in the first 25km, 7-seat cars are 14,800 VND in the first 25km. It is known that currently, businesses and owners of passenger and freight transport vehicles in Nghe An have not yet "moved" to increase fares.

According to the assessment of the authorities, before and after the adjustment of gasoline prices, there were no unusual phenomena such as "hoarding" in the market of our province like the previous price increases. Mr. Cao Viet Dong - Head of Sales Department of Nghe An Petroleum Joint Stock Company, said: "In the retail system of 63 gasoline stores of the company in Nghe An, there was no phenomenon of hoarding or refusing to sell gasoline to customers. Before and after the increase in retail gasoline prices, the company stably supplied the market with about 288,000 liters per day."

The scope of influence of the increase in retail gasoline prices is very large, and therefore, like the gasoline industry, how long can the passenger and cargo transportation business "struggle" not to increase fares? Reality shows that, after each increase in gasoline prices, there are a series of products on the market that "follow" the price increase. Therefore, the authorities at all levels and sectors need to strengthen management and strictly handle violations.

Article and photos: Hoang Vinh