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. 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 steep revision is set to hit lakhs of daily commuters, particularly office-goers and low-income families who depend on public transport. The revised fares will come into effect from Thursday midnight (Nov 5).The scale of the hike is unprecedented! Between 2009 and 2025, fare revisions by the four corporations ranged from a modest 3.56% to a maximum of 15%, making the latest increase more than double the highest revision in the previous 16 years.In Bengaluru, even the shortest bus ride will cost significantly more. The minimum fare for city buses (BMTC), covering journeys of up to 2 km, has jumped from Rs 6 to Rs 10 — a 67% increase! Those travelling between 2 km and 4 km will have to pay Rs 6 more, while fares for longer distances have gone up by as much as Rs 12. A trip from Majestic to Shivajinagar, which earlier cost Rs 12, will now set passengers back by Rs 18. The Majestic-Yeshwanthpur and Majestic-Vijayanagar fares have climbed from Rs 18 to Rs 25, while commuters travelling to Attibele will have to shell out Rs 42 instead of Rs 30.The pinch will be equally severe for passengers using BMTC’s Vajra AC services. The first 6 km will cost Rs 5 more, journeys between 6 km and 18 km will attract a Rs 10 hike, while longer trips will become costlier by up to Rs 15. A journey from Central Silk Board to Hebbal will now cost Rs 65 against Rs 55, while the Majestic-Attibele fare has increased from Rs 60 to Rs 70.Passengers travelling beyond Bengaluru will also feel the heat. For KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC services, fares have been increased by Rs 9 for the first five stages and Rs 18 for journeys covering up to 10 stages. An ordinary bus journey from Bengaluru to Nelamangala or Hoskote will now cost Rs 44 against Rs 35 earlier. In express services, the Bengaluru-Nelamangala fare has risen from Rs 81 to Rs 100, while passengers travelling to Mandya will have to pay Rs 136 instead of Rs 110.Defending the steep increase, transport minister Byrathi Suresh cited escalating operational costs, including diesel prices, employee salaries and bus maintenance expenses. 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.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. However, he admitted that the government was yet to clear Rs 6,200 crore in reimbursements due to the corporations under the scheme.
