Bus fare increased in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Those traveling in roadways buses in Karnataka will now have to shell out money. The Cabinet has approved the proposal to increase roadways bus fares by 15 percent. This increase in bus fares will come into effect from January 5.
In fact, the ruling Congress in Karnataka had promised during the assembly elections that if it came to power, it would start free bus travel for women. After coming to power, the state government fulfilled this promise but its burden started falling on the State Road Transport Corporation. KSRTC later proposed to increase the fare to the state government. This proposal was finally given the green signal by the state government.
Huge increase in operating costs
Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil said the decision has been taken in view of the huge increase in operating costs such as increase in fuel prices and expenditure on staff. Patil said, “The Cabinet has approved buses of four state transport corporations – Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). It has been decided to increase the fare by 15 percent.” The minister said that this decision will come into effect from January 5.
He said BMTC bus fare was increased on January 10, 2015 when the price of diesel was Rs 60.90 per litre. Justifying the increase, Patil said, “The daily diesel consumption of the four corporations was Rs 9.16 crore 10 years ago, which has now increased to Rs 13.21 crore. The daily expenditure on employees in these four corporations was Rs 12.95 crore, which has increased to Rs 18.36 crore per day. Therefore amendment was necessary.
Free travel facility for women
He said that the ‘Shakti’ guarantee scheme will continue. Under the ‘Shakti’ scheme, free travel facilities are provided to women in government-owned non-luxury buses throughout the state. “We discussed the increase between 13 per cent and 15 per cent and the Cabinet came to the decision of 15 per cent considering the current prices in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra,” the minister said. Even after a fifteen percent increase, fares in Karnataka will still be lower than these states.” He also said that the state government has paid all provident fund dues amounting to Rs 2,000 crore.
Earlier in the month of July last year, the Chairman of Karnataka State Transport Corporation had told that in just three months the Transport Corporation had incurred a loss of Rs 295 crore. He had told that the Transport Corporation has about 8 thousand buses. All the buses have covered 10 to 11 lakh kilometres. There are around 450 to 500 Volvo buses, that too have covered around 20 lakh kilometres. Keeping all this in mind there are many expenses like purchasing new buses, maintaining old buses and many more. Therefore it is necessary to increase the fare.
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