KSRTC, BMTC Bus Fare may Hike 25%: Committee recommend Revision
The high-level committee headed by retired IAS officer Atul Tiwari has recommended that fares across all four Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) undertakings be increased by at least 25% to reduce their financial burden and improve their long-term financial sustainability.
Karnataka government bus commuters are likely to face a significant increase in travel expenses, as all indications point towards a hike in bus ticket fares. KSRTC, BMTC Bus Fare may Hike 25%: Committee recommend Revision.
The high-level committee headed by retired IAS officer Atul Tiwari has recommended that fares across all four Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) undertakings be increased by at least 25% to reduce their financial burden and improve their long-term financial sustainability.
The committee has already submitted its official report to the state government. According to the report, the state’s transport corporations are currently facing severe financial stress and are increasingly dependent on government support to meet their day-to-day operational expenses.
The panel has concluded that a fare revision is the most practical and immediate solution to strengthen the financial health of the corporations and reduce their mounting losses. Although the committee has recommended a 25% fare hike, the state government is reportedly considering a more gradual approach.
As an initial step, it is likely to approve a 15% to 17% increase in bus fares from November. The Transport Department is said to be planning a phased implementation to minimise public backlash over the proposed fare revision.
The proposed fare hike is expected to add to the financial burden on commuters, who are already struggling with rising prices of essential commodities. Since government buses serve as the primary mode of daily transportation for millions of people across Karnataka, any increase in ticket prices will have a direct impact on household expenses.
In recent years, the state’s transport corporations have been under increasing financial pressure due to higher employee salaries following wage revisions, rising diesel prices, and the cost of implementing various free travel schemes. To offset these growing losses, the government appears set to pass part of the burden on to passengers through a fare hike. An official announcement regarding the revised bus fares is expected in November.
