The highway bus fare is about to be adjusted upwards starting next week at the earliest, with both Kuo-kuang Motor Transport and U-bus increasing ticket prices by 1 to 40 NT dollars.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said that it will start its fuel subsidies if the oil price continues to surge.

Ubus and Kuokuang have filed ticket price adjustment applications with the Directorate General of Highways, and long-haul bus companies could be raising ticket prices as soon as next week.

Ubus' application has already been approved, and ticket prices for its 31 routes will likely increase 10 NT to 30 NT.

Taipei-Kaohsiung prices are expected to rise from 530 NT to 550 NT, while Taipei-Taichung tickets are expected to increase from 260 NT to 280 NT.

Kuokuang, meanwhile, will be hiking prices on its 44 routes by 1 NT to 40 NT.

Bus companies say that they have no choice but to adjust prices in light of rising fuel prices, and Transportation and Communications Minister Mao Chi-kuo says that bus ticket prices are currently still within the acceptable 606 NT range.

If fuel prices continue rising, the MOTC will likely issue subsidies to reduce the impact of price fluctuations on consumers.