Karnataka state-run bus fares increase from Wednesday midnight
Transport corporations cited rising fuel costs and mounting financial liabilities for the fare hike affecting KSRTC, NWKRTC, KKRTC, and BMTC services.
Karnataka's state-run transport corporations have implemented a fare increase effective from Wednesday midnight, according to reports by Deccan Herald and Urban Acres. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) have raised fares by an average of 23 per cent, while Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) fares increased by 35 per cent.
The corporations attributed the hike to escalating operational costs, noting that diesel prices rose by Rs 10.47 since May. Diesel consumption costs the corporations approximately Rs 15.6 crore daily, and their cumulative diesel dues stand at Rs 1,111.88 crore. Additionally, salary revisions have added Rs 6,418.04 crore to expenses since 2016.
The total outstanding liabilities of the corporations are estimated at Rs 9,912.1 crore, which includes Rs 7,719.31 crore in employee-related dues such as staff arrears and provident fund payments. The debt currently stands at Rs 2,192.79 crore.
The Karnataka BJP has demanded an immediate rollback of the increase and the publication of the full loss accounts of the transport corporations. State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra described the hike as an additional burden on poor residents, workers, students, and patients.
He accused the government of imposing higher costs following price increases for electricity, milk, and curd.
In Bengaluru, the minimum ticket price is set to rise from Rs 6 to Rs 10. Long-distance journeys will also see changes, with a Bengaluru-Kalaburagi trip costing nearly Rs 1,000 and a trip to Mysuru costing Rs 197.