Karnataka to increase state-run bus fares from November 5
Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said the extent of the fare hike will be decided on November 4.
Karnataka Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh announced on Sunday that fares for state-run buses will increase starting November 5. According to reports from Moneycontrol and the Deccan Herald, the state government will finalise the specific amount of the hike on November 4 following a meeting with Transport Department officials and representatives from the four state transport corporations.
Speaking in Chikkaballapur, Suresh said the revision is necessary to support transport corporations facing financial stress. He noted that the corporations have accumulated losses of approximately Rs 9,000 crore and incur combined annual losses of around Rs 2,000 crore. The minister attributed part of this stress to repeated diesel price increases by the central government.
The Deccan Herald reported that the Public Transport Fare Regulatory Committee recently recommended fare increases of 25 per cent for KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC, and 40 per cent for BMTC. The committee described the hike as inevitable to prevent the corporations from falling into dire straits.
The corporations face various financial pressures, including liabilities of about Rs 6,600 crore for dues such as provident funds and diesel. Additionally, a 12.5 per cent salary hike effective from July 1, 2026, has increased annual expenditure by Rs 873.64 crore. The corporations also noted that the Shakti scheme, providing free travel for women, has impacted cash flow by reducing the proportion of fare-paying male passengers from 48 per cent to 36 per cent.