Bus Service Fares: Sources said the contractor had been raising some issues with the VMC, including the payment for services provided during the Covid-19 pandemic. “It seems that the decision to hike the fares was taken to compensate for the dues from the VMC,” said an official. The official added that the contractor had informed the VMC before April 1 about the plans to hike the fare. The contractor waited for a response from VMC and then went ahead with the hike.