The Karnataka government has officially implemented a hike in bus fares across all four state-run transport corporations, effective from the midnight of November 4. This decision impacts the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, along with two other regional corporations. According to official statements, the average fare increase for KSRTC is approximately 23 percent, while BMTC fares have been raised between 33 percent and 35 percent to manage rising operational costs.
New Fare Structure and Effective Date
The Karnataka government has approved a significant revision in bus fares for the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh announced the decision on November 4, stating that the revised fares would come into effect starting from the midnight of the same day. This hike covers a wide range of services, including ordinary buses, express services, long-distance routes, and specialized airport bus services. For KSRTC ordinary buses, the fares have been increased by up to 9 rupees, depending on the distance traveled by the passenger. The government has stated that this step was necessary to address the financial health of the transport bodies.
Specific Route Changes and BMTC Fares
Commuters in Bengaluru will face a change in the minimum stage-wise fare for BMTC buses, which has increased from 6 rupees to 10 rupees. Specific routes have also seen notable adjustments. For instance, the fare for the bus service from Hebbal to Kempegowda International Airport has risen from 175 rupees to 200 rupees. In the KSRTC network, the fare from Nelamangala to Majestic has increased from 35 rupees to 44 rupees, while the journey from Doddaballapur to Majestic will now cost 47 rupees instead of 38 rupees. KSRTC Express fares have been adjusted from 81 rupees to 100 rupees, and long-distance bus fares have moved from 75 rupees to 90 rupees. The Minister also indicated that fares for premium services, such as Vajra and Volvo buses, might be revised periodically based on requirements.
Regulatory Recommendations and Board Requests
The current fare revision follows the recommendations of the Public Transport Fare Regulatory Committee, which is chaired by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari. The committee had originally recommended a higher increase of 45 percent, but the government decided on a lower percentage for the actual implementation. Furthermore, the boards of the four transport corporations had initially sought a much steeper fare increase of up to 90 percent, according to Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh. This decision to hike bus fares comes shortly after another economic adjustment in the state, where milk prices were increased by over 8 rupees across all categories of milk and curd just last week.
Financial Challenges and Reasons for the Hike
Several factors were cited by the Transport Minister as reasons for the fare revision. He pointed to the rising prices of diesel as a primary contributor to the increased operational burden on the corporations. Additionally, the costs associated with spare parts and the general maintenance of the bus fleets have seen an upward trend. Another major factor is the requirement for a wage revision for the employees of the transport corporations. Currently, the four transport corporations are collectively incurring annual losses of approximately 2,000 crore rupees. The government maintains that periodic fare revisions are essential to ensure the financial sustainability of these public transport services and to provide adequate funds for maintenance and employee salaries.
Shakti Scheme and Press Conference Details
During the press interaction, Minister Byrathi Suresh clarified the status of the Shakti Scheme, which provides free travel for eligible women. He emphasized that the Shakti Scheme is not responsible for the financial difficulties faced by the transport corporations. He explained that the Karnataka government reimburses the corporations for the cost of the free tickets issued, although he did acknowledge that these payments are sometimes delayed. The announcement of the fare hike was marked by some confusion during the press conference. When journalists asked for specific percentage-wise breakdowns of the increases, the Minister suggested that they calculate the percentages themselves. There was also visible uncertainty among managing directors and other officials regarding certain details of the new fare structure. An official press release was only provided after repeated requests from the media during the event.
Source / स्रोत: The Hindu
