Commuters will have to shell out more as Karnataka government announces a steep hike in bus fares across all four state-run transport corporations (SRTCs).
From short city rides to long-distance journeys, passengers will have to shell out significantly more, with BMTC fares surging by 32% to 35% and those of KSRTC , NWKRTC and KKRTC going up by 23%. The revised fares will come into effect from Thursday midnight (Nov 5). He said KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC had revised fares only twice in the past 10 years, while BMTC had effected just one revision during the period. The minister said diesel prices alone had surged by Rs 10.47 per litre this year, adding to the mounting financial burden on the corporations. The four transport undertakings have accumulated liabilities of Rs 9,912 crore, including loans amounting to Rs 2,192 crore, he said.
However, he admitted that the government was yet to clear Rs 6,200 crore in reimbursements due to the corporations under the scheme. Bengaluru: A daily bus ride is set to burn a much bigger hole in the pockets of commuters, with the Karnataka government unleashing a steep and unprecedented fare hike across all four state-run transport corporations. The steep revision is set to hit lakhs of daily commuters, particularly office-goers and low-income families who depend on public transport. Defending the steep increase, transport minister Byrathi Suresh cited escalating operational costs, including diesel prices, employee salaries and bus maintenance expenses. On the financial implications of the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel to women, Suresh maintained that it had not undermined the corporations’ financial health as the state government reimburses the expenditure.