Karnataka Bus Fare Hike on the Cards; CM’s Final Approval Pending

Commuters in Karnataka may soon have to pay more for bus travel, as the state government is actively considering a hike in fares for government-run buses in response to rising fuel costs. The proposal covers all four state transport corporations, including KSRTC and BMTC, with an expert committee currently evaluating their financial condition before making its recommendations.

The recent surge in diesel prices, driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has substantially increased the operating costs of Karnataka’s public transport corporations. Officials have informed the government that the escalating fuel expenses are placing severe financial pressure on the corporations, making a fare revision increasingly unavoidable.

KSRTC Seeks 33% Hike, BMTC Proposes 44%:

According to official sources, KSRTC has proposed a 33% increase in bus fares, while BMTC has sought a 44% hike. However, the Karnataka government has not yet approved either proposal. A final decision will be taken only after the expert committee submits its report.

Transport Corporations Facing Heavy Financial Burden:

Officials estimate that the increase in diesel prices is adding nearly Rs 40 crore in extra expenses every month for the state’s four transport corporations—KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC.

If fuel prices remain at current levels, the additional financial burden could rise to nearly Rs 480 crore annually, putting further strain on the corporations’ finances.

Transport Minister Bhairathi Suresh said diesel prices have already been revised upward six times, causing the transport corporations to incur losses of approximately Rs 7–8 crore every week. Given the mounting losses, he said the government may have no option but to review and revise bus fares to ensure the financial sustainability of public transport services.

Expert Committee Assessing the Proposal:

To ensure an informed and balanced decision, the Karnataka government has constituted an expert committee instead of approving the fare hike outright.

The committee, headed by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari, has already visited all four transport corporations to assess their financial health and gather relevant data.

Its members include Dwarakanath Babu, Dr. Abdul Pinjari, a retired government secretary, and a representative from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

The committee is examining several key factors, including:

Revenue and expenditure

Fuel costs

Overall financial position

Operational sustainability

Based on its findings, it will recommend whether bus fares should be increased and by how much.

After the committee submits its report, it will be placed before the Chief Minister for consideration. The government will then take a final decision after carefully balancing the financial health of the transport corporations with the impact of any fare hike on passengers.

The possibility of another bus fare hike has sparked concern among commuters across the state. Since ticket prices were already increased last year, many fear that another revision would further raise the cost of daily travel and place an additional burden on household budgets.

With transport corporations struggling under rising fuel costs and passengers anxious about higher travel expenses, the expert committee’s report is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the state’s next move on bus fares.