Karnataka may hike bus fares as Shivakumar says ‘KSRTC should also survive’

“KSRTC should also survive. It should be suitable for the people. Because the prime minister himself has given guidance to use public transport to save fuel. This should be decided keeping in mind the interests of the people. Private companies are buying diesel from public bunkers instead of depots. I have heard a report on this,” Shivakumar said.

Last year, the government hiked bus fares by 15 per cent in January to cover rising operational costs following the launch of the Shakti scheme of free travel for women in 2023.

Last year, the government cited the “non-revision of ticket price for the last five years,” the increase in average daily diesel expenditure from Rs 9.16 crore to Rs 13.21 crore due to fuel price rises, and the “increase in staff cost due to 15 per cent wage revision during 2020-2023” as major factors for revising bus fares in the state.

Then transport minister Ramalinga Reddy argued last year that the government bus fares in Karnataka were lower, even after the 15 per cent hike, when compared with those in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra, “in terms of paise/km currently charged”.

The government has granted Rs 8,800 crore for running the Shakti scheme, implemented since June 11, 2023.