Bhubaneswar: Bus passengers in Odisha will now have to pay extra charges for carrying luggage more than 15 kg, a notification of the state transport department said.

As per the notification, carriage of luggage weighing more than 15 kg in buses will be charged 7 paise per km for upto 20 more kgs than the set limit.

This apart, passengers will now have to pay a minimum fare of Rs 5 for general buses and Rs 13 for deluxe and AC deluxe buses.

It has also been decided that the state Transport Commissioner will fix the fares for buses every year in April, after the Budget Session. The fares will be again separately revised in every 15 days according to the rise and fall in diesel prices, the notification said.

The department has als decided for 100 per cent relaxation of bus fare for HIV/AIDS infected persons, visually handicapped persons, mentally challenged, physically handicapped and deaf persons.