Business
Victoria Offers Free Public Transport All April as Fuel Prices Surge
MELBOURNE, Australia — Victorians will ride trains, trams and buses for free throughout April as the state government moves to ease cost-of-living pressures amid soaring fuel prices and supply shortages that have pushed petrol costs near $3 per liter and left some stations dry.
The Allan government announced Sunday that all metropolitan and regional public transport services — including Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses plus V/Line trains, coaches and regional town buses — will be fare-free from Tuesday, March 31, through Thursday, April 30. Passengers will not need to tap on or off with their myki cards during the period, though those who do will not be charged.
Premier Jacinta Allan described the month-long initiative as a “temporary measure” to take pressure off household budgets and reduce demand at the petrol pump. “It won’t solve every problem, but it is an immediate step I can take to help Victorians right now,” she said.
The policy, estimated to cost the state around $70 million, comes as fuel prices climb due to global supply disruptions linked to conflict in the Middle East. Unleaded petrol in Victoria has approached or exceeded $3 per liter in some areas, with reports of more than 100 fuel stations running dry or limiting sales. Similar cost-of-living relief measures were announced in Tasmania, where free public transport will extend until the end of June or July.
Transport Minister Harriet Shing said the move aims to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home, potentially easing road congestion and fuel demand during the April school holidays and Easter period. “We want to make it as easy as possible for people to choose public transport,” she told reporters.
Free travel covers all trips solely within Victoria, with limited exceptions for cross-border services to Albury, Mount Gambier and Deniliquin. Seat reservations on V/Line services will not be available during the free period. Public Transport Victoria has directed operators to open gates and disable fare enforcement for the month.
The announcement follows calls from the Victorian Greens earlier in March for fare relief as fuel prices escalated. Opposition parties offered mixed reactions, with some welcoming the help for families while questioning the long-term strategy and fiscal impact. NSW and Western Australia have not announced similar measures, leaving commuters in those states to continue paying fares.
For a typical full-fare commuter traveling five days a week, the initiative could save up to $250 in April compared with normal myki daily caps of around $11.40. Monthly or yearly pass holders may see proportional relief depending on their usage.
Public transport advocates welcomed the trial as a bold experiment that could demonstrate the benefits of more affordable or fare-free systems. “This gives us a real-world look at what happens when barriers to public transport are removed,” said one Melbourne-based transport researcher. Increased ridership is expected, particularly for leisure trips during the school holidays, though officials have urged patience if services become busier than usual.
Concerns have been raised about potential overcrowding on popular routes. The government said it would monitor demand and work with operators to add services where needed. Past short-term fare-free periods in other cities have shown spikes in usage, especially among occasional riders and tourists.
The policy arrives against a backdrop of broader cost-of-living challenges in Australia. Households are grappling with higher grocery prices, energy bills and mortgage costs, making any relief at the pump or on transport welcome for many. Fuel prices have fluctuated sharply in recent weeks, with some regional areas hit harder than metropolitan Melbourne.
Economists noted that while free public transport provides immediate relief, it does not address underlying supply issues driving fuel costs. Global oil markets remain volatile, and analysts say sustained high prices could influence consumer behavior longer term, including greater interest in electric vehicles and active transport.
Victoria has invested heavily in public transport infrastructure in recent years, including new metro rail projects and tram extensions. The Allan government pointed to those upgrades as evidence of its commitment to better services, with the April free month framed as a bridge to encourage more people to make public transport a habit.
Opposition transport spokesperson David Hodgett called the announcement a “short-term gimmick” and urged the government to focus on fixing reliability issues and delivering promised infrastructure on time. “Victorians need permanent solutions, not one-month band-aids,” he said.
Environmental groups praised the environmental upside, saying reduced car use during April could cut emissions and ease pressure on roads. “Getting people onto trains and trams instead of sitting in traffic is a win for clean air and congestion,” a spokesperson for one sustainability organization said.
For regional Victorians, the free V/Line services could prove particularly valuable, offering relief for longer commutes or trips to Melbourne. Intertown and regional town bus services are also included, broadening the reach across the state.
Travelers are advised to check PTV apps and websites for any service changes or crowding alerts. While myki cards can still be used, there is no requirement to tap during the free period. International visitors and interstate travelers within the eligible routes can also benefit.
The initiative coincides with Easter and school holidays, traditionally busy travel periods. Officials hope the free fares will spread demand across the network rather than concentrating it on roads.
As April 30 approaches, the government has not ruled out extensions if fuel prices remain elevated, though Allan described the current plan as strictly time-limited. Longer-term discussions about fare structures, including ideas like permanent concessions or distance-based pricing, may gain traction depending on ridership data collected during the free month.
Public reaction on social media has been largely positive, with many Victorians expressing relief and plans to use trains and trams more frequently for work, shopping or family outings. Some expressed skepticism about whether the system can handle a surge without delays or safety issues.
The Victorian government urged people to plan journeys in advance and consider off-peak travel where possible. Additional cleaning and staffing measures are being considered to maintain service quality.
This marks one of the most significant temporary public transport interventions in Victoria’s history, testing the appetite for fare reform in a state with an extensive rail and tram network.
As fuel prices continue to fluctuate and global supply concerns persist, the April free transport trial will provide valuable insights into how price signals influence travel choices. For now, Victorians have a full month to experience public transport without the usual fare burden — a break that many hope will deliver both financial relief and a shift toward more sustainable commuting.
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ClearBridge Appreciation Portfolios Q1 2026 Commentary
Business
Trent nears record date for 1:2 bonus issue: Should you buy shares for bonus reward? Here’s what experts say
Earlier in April, the Tata Group-company had announced the 1:2 bonus issue along with a Rs 6 dividend and Q4 results. The Tata Group company said it will issue one bonus share for every two shares owned as of the record date. Around 17.77 crore shares with a face value of Re 1 each will be issued as part of the offer.
Trent bonus issue record date
Initially, the company had fixed May 29 (Friday) as the record date to determine the eligibility of shareholders set to receive the payment. Later in the beginning of May, Trent revised the record date for the bonus issue to June 4 (Thursday). Trent plans to allot the bonus shares by June 21, utilising share premium worth Rs 17.77 crore. The company’s total share premium available for capitalisation stood at Rs 1,924.3 crore as of March 31, 2026.
This marks the first-ever bonus issue announced by the Tata Group company. Earlier in June last year, the company announced a dividend of Rs 5 per equity share, while it paid dividends of Rs 3.20 in May 2024 and Rs 2.20 in May 2023. In 2016, it announced a stock split in the ratio of 10:1.
Should you buy Trent shares for bonus reward?
Trent’s bonus issue is not an investment trigger by itself, explained Harshal Dasani, Business Head at INVasset PMS. He added that any investor looking at the stock purely to receive bonus shares is confusing liquidity optics with value creation. “A bonus increases the number of shares and adjusts the price accordingly; it does not change the underlying business, cash flows, or economic ownership,” he said.The real question is whether Trent’s earnings trajectory can keep justifying the valuation, Dasani highlighted, adding that the franchise remains among the strongest consumer discretionary stories in India, with store expansion, clean execution and brand recall working in its favour. “But the market has already priced in a long runway of growth. At this stage, the margin for disappointment is limited,” he added.
Existing shareholders with conviction can let the corporate action pass through, while fresh money needs to be anchored in earnings visibility and valuation comfort, not the bonus record date, according to the analyst. “Chasing the stock only for bonus eligibility is a weak investment argument,” he concluded.
Trent share price
Trent shares have fallen more than 25% in one year to close at Rs 4,224 apiece on NSE on Friday. The stock has declined over 1% so far in 2026. In the longer term, the shares gained over 175% in three years and 412% in five years.
Promoters and the promoter group held a 37% stake in the company, while the public owned the remaining 63%, as per the shareholding pattern as of March 31, 2026, on the NSE. Among promoters, Tata Sons held over 32%, while Tata Investment Corporation owned a little over 4%.
Trent Q4 Results
Trent reported a 26% growth in its consolidated net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, at Rs 400 crore versus Rs 318 crore in the year-ago period. Its revenue from operations, meanwhile, rose 19% YoY to Rs 5,028 crore in Q4 FY26.
Further, Trent’s board of directors also approved the plan to raise additional funds through the issue of equity shares via rights issue or other methods. The company announced an Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) to issue nearly 8.89 lakh shares to its eligible shareholders.
Also read: Did LIC shares really crash 50% in one day? Here’s how the bonus math works
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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The Rs 27 crore IPO was open for subscription between May 22 and May 26, while the basis of allotment was finalized on May 27. The company fixed the issue price at Rs 52 per share, the upper end of the Rs 51-52 price band. The IPO comprised a fresh issue of 52 lakh shares aggregating Rs 27.04 crore. There was no offer-for-sale component.
Ahead of the IPO opening, the company raised Rs 7.64 crore from anchor investors through the allotment of 14.7 lakh shares.
Incorporated in 2010, M R Maniveni Foods is engaged in the processing, packaging and distribution of food products. The company primarily focuses on pulse processing and operates in the urad dal and toor dal segments. It supplies products mainly to business-to-business customers.
The company said it emphasizes quality control, modern processing techniques and supply chain management to ensure product consistency and food safety standards. As of April 30, 2026, the company had a workforce of around 16 employees.
For FY25, M R Maniveni Foods reported total income of Rs 203.5 crore, compared with Rs 155 crore in FY24. Profit after tax rose to Rs 4.13 crore from Rs 2.18 crore a year earlier. The company had total assets of Rs 41.1 crore and net worth of Rs 18.6 crore as of March 31, 2025.
The IPO proceeds are expected to support working capital requirements and general corporate purposes.The flat GMP suggests investors are adopting a wait-and-watch approach toward the issue despite the company’s steady growth in revenue and profitability. Grey market premiums are unofficial indicators of investor sentiment and do not guarantee actual listing performance.
Capital Square Advisors was the book-running lead manager to the issue, while Bigshare Services acted as the registrar. CapitalSquare Financial Services is the market maker for the IPO.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)
Columbia Threadneedle Investments is a leading global asset management group that provides a broad range of actively managed investment strategies and solutions for individual, institutional and corporate clients around the world. Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global asset management group of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP). For more information please visit columbiathreadneedleus.com.
Initial findings show Tongzhou Group, the company operating the privately owned coal mine, had committed “serious illegal violations”, authorities said, without specifying what they discovered. The company has not responded to the allegations and the BBC’s previous attempts to reach them were unsuccessful.
Hartford Funds offers a broad range of actively managed and systematic-investing strategies designed to provide solutions for a variety of investment needs. Articles published here provide readers with timely insight on economic, market, and investing trends. For more information visit hartfordfunds.com.
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