Karnataka: Days after hiking Nandini milk and curd prices across the state, the Karnataka government will increase bus fares across state-run transport corporations, effective November 5. Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh confirmed the decision on Sunday, stating that the exact increase will be finalised following a key meeting on November 4.

The state cabinet recently deliberated on the revision and tasked Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and the transport department with the final decision. Officials from all four state-run transport corporations will meet on November 4 to determine the revised rate structure, which is scheduled to roll out the following day.

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Mounting Operational Costs And Diesel Spikes Force Bus Price Hike

Addressing reporters in Chikkaballapur, Suresh emphasised that the public transport fare hike had become unavoidable due to severe financial strain and mounting operating costs. Four diesel price increases by the Union government have added an annual burden of Rs 2,000 crore on the state's four transport corporations, pushing cumulative losses to Rs 9,000 crore.

"We have no choice but to increase the fare hike, and it has become inevitable to revive the prices of the corporations," The Indian Express quoted Suresh as saying.

The Public Transport Fare Regulatory Committee (PTFRC), headed by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari, has recommended:

  • 25 per cent fare hike for three regional state transport corporations.
  • 40 per cent fare hike for the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

Fares Last Revised In 2023

Karnataka public transport fares were last revised on January 5, 2023, when prices were raised by 15 per cent. The regulatory committee highlighted that over the past 18 months, operating costs have surged significantly, driven by a 12.5 per cent salary increase for transport employees implemented in July (adding Rs 873 crore to annual expenditure) and a Rs 7.81 per litre rise in diesel prices (costing an additional Rs 395 crore).

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Responding to criticism from Chikkaballapur BJP MP K Sudhakar, Suresh defended the move, asserting that public transport rates in Karnataka remain lower than in several other states and challenging him to compare rates with BJP-ruled states.