Transport operator SMRT has raised its concerns about stiffer penalties to the Public Transport Council (PTC), and requested that the Council reassess parts of the penalty framework.

On Monday, the PTC announced that it would raise fines for operators that fail to comply with service standards from next month. The current penalties range from $100 per day per bus service to $10,000 per month per operating standard. It has been raised to $2,000 per day/bus service to $100,000 per month/standard from next month.

SMRT's acting vice-president for buses Tan Kian Heong said that while it recognised the intention behind the revised penalty framework for bus service standards, there are "some limitations with bus operations".

External factors such as inclement weather and traffic accidents could affect operations and thus result in non-compliance with service standards, Mr Tan noted. He added: "SMRT always has and will continue to strive to raise our service standards to provide a better commuting experience to our customers."