Come June 14, commuters using the services of rural bus operators and hackney carriage taxi operators will have to dig deeper into their pockets.

This as a 25 per cent fare increase granted to the operators by the Ministry of Transport and Works will take effect on that day.

The ministry said the decision to grant a fare increase follows recent assessments of the overall increased operating costs the operators have to face, along with other relevant factors, including commuter concerns. Additionally, the operators also requested a fare structure review from the ministry.

The increase will bring the base fare for travelling on rural buses to $22 with a charge of $2.83 being applicable for each kilometre journeyed. Children under 12, students in uniform, the physically challenged and pensioners are to pay 50 per cent of the approved fares.

The new rates for the hackney carriage (taxi) operators islandwide will be a base fare of $156.25, a per kilometre charge of $31.25, waiting time charge of $16 per five minutes and a long-term rate of hire of $500 per hour.

Fares for travelling on the Jamaica Urban Transit Company buses will remain unchanged.