Karnataka hikes bus fares across four state-run transport corporations
Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh announced the fare increases to reduce losses and manage rising diesel prices and employee expenditures.
The Karnataka government has increased bus fares across its four state-run transport corporations, including KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC, according to reports by Hindustan Times and Moneycontrol. The revised rates come into force from midnight on November 5.
Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh stated that the hike is intended to reduce losses and save the corporations rather than to make a profit. He attributed the decision to rising diesel prices and employee salary expenditures, noting that the corporations face an annual expenditure of nearly Rs 16,000 crore against an annual revenue of around Rs 14,000 crore.
In the BMTC, fares will increase by 32 to 35 per cent, with the minimum fare rising from Rs 6 to Rs 10 and the maximum from Rs 35 to Rs 45. For KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC, the average fare increase is approximately 23 per cent.
Suresh addressed claims that the Shakti scheme, which provides free travel for women on non-luxury buses, causes losses, calling such claims false. He said the government reimburses the corporations for the tickets used by women passengers, noting that Rs 16,594 crore was released between 2023-24 and October 2026, while Rs 6,300 crore to Rs 6,362 crore remains outstanding.
The minister noted that a committee led by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari had recommended a 45 per cent increase, while corporation boards had sought up to 90 per cent in some instances. The government did not accept those recommendations in full.