Karnataka hikes bus fares across four state-run transport corporations
The fare revision, effective from November 5, aims to address financial losses and rising operational costs in the transport sector.
The Karnataka government has increased bus fares across the BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC state-run transport corporations, according to reports by The Hindu and Moneycontrol. The revised rates, which cover ordinary, express, long-distance, and airport services, will come into effect from midnight on November 4.
Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said the hike was intended to save the institutions rather than generate profit. He attributed the decision to rising diesel prices, increasing expenditure on spare parts and maintenance, and the need for employee wage revisions. The four corporations collectively incur annual losses of approximately Rs 2,000 crore.
The average fare hike is around 23 per cent for KSRTC and between 32 per cent and 35 per cent for BMTC. This follows a recent increase in Nandini milk prices, which rose by Rs 8 per litre on November 1.
In Bengaluru, the BMTC minimum stage-wise fare has increased from Rs 6 to Rs 10. The fare from Nelamangala to Majestic will rise from Rs 35 to Rs 44, while the Doddaballapur–Majestic fare will increase from Rs 38 to Rs 47. The Hebbal–Kempegowda International Airport bus fare will go up from Rs 175 to Rs 200.
For KSRTC, ordinary bus fares have increased by up to Rs 9 depending on distance. Express fares will rise from Rs 81 to Rs 100, while long-distance fares will increase from Rs 75 to Rs 90. The Minister noted that fares for premium services, such as Vajra and Volvo buses, could be revised periodically as required.