India, May 30 -- The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking has been grappling with complaints from conductors regarding the paucity of loose change since bus fares were hiked on May 9. The shortage has forced conductors to issue more credit notes to passengers than earlier, pushing up the daily average of credit notes from Rs.700 to Rs.1,100, said sources. The problem is especially acute in airconditioned buses plying on short-distance ring routes, wherein the fare was hiked from Rs.6 to Rs.12, the sources added.

"Earlier, when passengers on ring routes paid us Rs.10, we would have to return Rs.5 in case of non-AC buses and Rs.4 in case of AC buses," a BEST conductor told Hindustan Times. "But after the hike in mi...