Double the fare for special inter-city buses

Bengaluru: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) announced 550 additional buses to cater the rush. Officials said they are charging 50% more than the normal fare in inter-city services for special buses during the festival season. 

KSRTC managing director Shivayogi C Kalasad maintained fares charged by the corporation are within the transport department rules and much lesser than the private bus operators.  Passengers feel KSRTC should be affordable. 

“We are collecting an average of Rs.2.1 per km from each passenger,” said a senior KSRTC official. He also added that bus rates normally increase by 10% during weekends and festive seasons. Passengers say KSRTC’s fares are much higher than government-run buses in other states. 

State road transport undertakings (SRTUs) - BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, and NEKRTC - have been demanding a fare revision of 18% due to rising operational costs. 

The state government has not yet approved the proposal. “It’s the responsibility of the government to compensate the loss of state-run bus corporations so they can subsidize the cost” added a regular KSRTC passenger. 

There isn’t adequate financial assistance from the government to stem the losses.