Karnataka commuters may soon have another financial burden on their shoulders as the state government is planning to hike bus ticket prices across its transport corporations. Just a day after the milk price rise, bus fare revision could add to household budget pressure (especially for those who commute by public transport for daily needs). Karnataka Transport Department is likely to take a decision in the first week of November, and a crucial meeting is scheduled on November 3.
Transport Minister and department officials will meet on November 3 to discuss the proposed fare revision and financial requirements of state-run transport corporations. The government will announce details of revised fares on November 4, but the final decision will depend on what is decided in the meeting. The proposal says BMTC may seek a fare increase of around 15 to 17 per cent; Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and other state transport corporations have reportedly sought around a 15 per cent hike.
If approved, the revision will affect passengers who travel on city, suburban and intercity bus services. BMTC buses are an important mode of transport for thousands of people in Bengaluru office employees, students, daily wage workers and others. KSRTC and other state transport corporations also have services connecting major cities with towns and rural areas across Karnataka. An increase in ticket prices could therefore be felt by passengers who use these services regularly.
The fare hike will also draw attention to the government’s Shakti scheme under which eligible women can travel free of cost on some state-run bus services in Karnataka. That scheme is likely to continue, and the government will bear the cost of travel for eligible women. So passengers buying tickets (men and other commuters not covered by the free-travel benefit) would directly feel the impact of any increase in fares, but this will depend on the final fare structure and categories of services that are revised.
The state transport corporations have reportedly been under financial stress due to rising operational expenses. Fuel prices, vehicle maintenance costs, salaries of employees and other administrative expenses also increased, which made the organisations financially weak. Transport corporations need huge amounts of money to run buses, maintain fleets, pay employees and provide regular services across the state. So a committee constituted to examine the financial position of transport corporations has reportedly recommended revision in passenger fares.
The issue was also discussed in the state Cabinet deliberations. After that discussion, it was decided that the Transport Department would take the final call on fare revision. So the November 3 meeting is therefore significant because officials will look into financial calculations, the percentage of increase and its impact on passengers before arriving at a decision.
For regular commuters, even a small increase in ticket prices could mean a monthly hike in travel costs. If the proposal is approved, workers who commute to and from work every day, students going to college, and people who travel between towns frequently may need to adjust their budgets (passengers using multiple bus services during daily trips could see a greater cumulative increase in expenditure).
The timing of the proposed hike will also be news to people just after the milk price increase and during Christmas. For many households, rising costs for essentials and transport make it hard to budget monthly. The proposed hike could therefore become a major public issue (especially among bus users).
For now, the proposed percentages should not be taken as confirmed fare hikes. The final decision (effective date and revised ticket prices) will only be known after the Transport Department talks. Commuters will be watching the November 3 meeting and the announcement on November 4 to see if Karnataka’s bus travel is going to become more expensive or not.
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