54APower of State Government to fix maximum and minimum rates for passenger fares and freight for goods

¹[54A. Power of State Government to fix maximum and minimum rates for passenger fares and freight for goods.--(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, after such inquiry as it may consider necessary, in respect of any s ystem of inland waterways, or of any stretch of inland waterway, or of the run between any two stations on an inland waterway,--

(a) fix the maximum or minimum rate ²[per kilometre] which may be charged for passenger fares for passengers of any class travelling on inland ³[mechanically propelled vessels];

(b) fix the maximum rate ²[per kilometre] which may be charged for freight on goods of any description carried in inland ³[mechanically propelled vessels];

(c) fix the minimum rate ²per kilometre] which may be charged for freight on goods of any description carried in inland ³[mechanically propelled vessels]; and

(d) declare what shall be deemed to be the distance between any two stations on an inland waterway for the purpose of calculating passengers fares or freight on goods where maximum or minimum rates have been fixed under this section.

(2) The State Government shall not fix any minimum rate under clause (a) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) in respect of any class of passengers or description of goods carried on any system of waterways, or stretch of waterway, or on the run between any two stations on an inland waterway, unless it is satisfied that the rates charged on any inl and ⁴ mechanically propelled vessel or group of such vessels in respect of such passengers or goods have been reduced to such an extent as to disclose an intention to force any other inland ⁴[mechanically propelled vessel] or group of such vessels to cease from carrying such passengers or goods.

⁵[(3) In case of any dispute relating to the fixation of the maximum or the minimum rate per kilometre which may be charged in respect of any class of passengers or of freight on goods of any description carried in inland mechanically propelled vessel between any stations lying in two States, any one of the States may report the matter to the Central Government who shall decide the same.]