Chikkaballapur, 1 October

The fares of all state-run busses in Karnataka will be hiked from 5 November, Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said on Sunday, but added that the exact quantum will be determined by the government by 4 November. 

The four bus corporations – KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC – had a cumulative loss of Rs 9,000 crore, he told reporters in Chikkaballapur. 

“A loss of Rs 2,000 crore is happening every year. If organisations are to survive, they must increase fare,” he said.  The exact quantum will be decided by the Cabinet by 4 November, he added.

Last month, A public transport fare panel recommended a 45 per cent increase in fares for the BMTC and a 28 per cent increase in fares for KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC. 

Suresh has said that part of the reason why the losses were incurring was because the BJP-led Centre had repeatedly hiked diesel prices. 

However, the Opposition BJP and JD(S) claim that the main reason the tickets are being hiked were because the Congress’ flagship guarantees were draining the State’s coffers. 

Leaders, like BJP MLC CT Ravi posted a video of DK Shivakumar on X where the Chief Minister says that the corporations were facing “immense losses” and that there’s no money to fill diesel. 

Ravi said that this was directly linked to the Shakti Scheme, which provides free bus tickets to all Karnataka women.