As schools reopened across Gujarat on Monday for the 2026-27 academic session, parents were hit with another expense as school van and rickshaw operators announced a hike in transportation charges.
The Ahmedabad School Vehicle Association has decided to increase the monthly fare for school transport services, citing rising operating costs, particularly the sharp increase in CNG prices over the past two years.
Under the revised rates, the monthly fare for school vans has been increased by ₹200, while school rickshaw fares have gone up by ₹100. The new rates come into effect with the start of the new academic year.
The decision is expected to add to the financial burden on parents who are already spending heavily on school fees, uniforms, textbooks and other educational expenses at the beginning of the academic session.
Association representatives said transport fares had not been revised for the last two years. However, they argued that a significant rise in CNG prices, along with higher insurance premiums, RTO charges and vehicle maintenance costs, made the increase unavoidable.
According to the association, the price of CNG has risen from ₹76.09 per kg in June 2024 to ₹88.02 per kg in June 2026, an increase of nearly ₹12.
Under the revised fare structure, monthly school rickshaw charges will range from ₹850 for one kilometre to ₹1,250 for five kilometres. Similarly, school van fares will range from ₹1,400 for one kilometre to ₹2,200 for five kilometres.
The fare hike has sparked concern among many middle-class families, who say the increased transportation costs will further strain household budgets already affected by rising education and living expenses.