Karnataka hikes bus fares

After the recent hike fuel prices, the state-owned Karnataka State Transport Corporation (KSRTC) hiked the passenger fares by 10 per cent for ordinary services and 12 for other services.

In a press statement, KSRTC said the revised bus fares, which came into force from yesterday, would help the transport corporation offset its financial burden and undertake various expansion plans.

Attributing the hike to increased operational costs, the KSRTC said expenditure of the state-run transport corporation had gone up on account of not only the increased fuel price, but also due to wage revision and steep rise in cost of steel, tyres, lubricants and other spare parts.

“The very modest hike”, KSRTC said, would help the Corporation recover at least a part of the expenditure. KSRTC had last revised its fares during June 2006 and there had been no increase in the fares thereafter despite frequent increase in the prices of fuel.
Also, the revenue accrued from the revised fares will help the Corporation introduce 450 peak-hour services across Bangalore, build eight new bus depots, twelve new bus stands and introduce the bus rapid transit system on the Outer Ring Road in Bangalore.