Commuters in Port Moresby who depend on buses for transport were left stranded on Friday after bus operators grounded their vehicles in protest over rising operational costs.
Although the bus services resumed later in the day, drivers said that they could no longer operate under the current K1 bus fare after fuel prices increased significantly.
The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission had warned public transport operators not to charge extra for fares nor shorten their routes to save fuel.
Passengers were stranded in various suburbs around the city.
Route Nine driver Benjamin Paraka from Tambul in Western Highlands, said the increase in diesel prices had made it difficult for drivers and bus owners to continue operating.
“One litre diesel was K8 (on Thursday). Now it’s K8.70. So we cannot operate when the bus fare is K1,” Paraka said.
“All the takings go to fuel. We have families and kids to look after. Bus owners will not pay us (drivers) if we continue to bring in little revenue in the afternoons.”
Paraka said the ongoing fuel issue had created tension between bus owners, drivers and bus crews, forcing them to take industrial action.
Some passengers were forced to walk long distances to get to work.
Iosu Yaro from Gulf, who lives at Tokarara and works at the Government Printing Office, said many commuters could not afford the increased bus fares.
“(They) are charging us K2 which some of us can’t afford. We had to walk all the way to Waigani, and saw buses (drivers) on strike,” Yaro said.
