Bengaluru: The Karnataka Congress government is weighing another bus fare increase as the state’s four transport corporations struggle under mounting financial pressure after repeated diesel price hikes. The proposed revision is likely to affect the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).
Transport Minister B Suresh said the government has formed an expert committee to examine the financial condition of the four corporations and recommend an appropriate fare revision. The government will take the final decision after the committee submits its report and the matter is placed before Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Officials of the transport corporations have cited the rise in diesel prices, attributed partly to the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as a major reason for seeking a fare revision. According to officials, KSRTC has sought an increase of around 33 per cent, while BMTC has reportedly proposed a hike of about 44 per cent.
The corporations have informed the government that the increase in diesel prices is adding nearly Rs 40 crore to their combined monthly expenditure. If the trend continues, the additional annual burden could reach around Rs 480 crore, further worsening the corporations’ financial position.
Minister B Suresh said diesel prices have already been increased six times, making a fare revision a possibility. He said the transport corporations are currently incurring an additional expenditure of around Rs 7 crore to Rs 8 crore every week because of higher diesel prices.
The government has entrusted a committee headed by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari with examining the corporations’ fare structure and financial requirements. The panel has already visited KSRTC, BMTC and the other two transport corporations and collected information on their revenue, expenditure and operational costs.
The committee includes retired government secretary Dr Abdul Pinjari, Dwarakanath Babu and a representative from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). It has been asked to assess the financial health of the corporations and recommend measures, including whether a fare revision is necessary.
The minister said the government would study the committee’s recommendations before deciding. The report will subsequently be brought to the Chief Minister’s attention before the final fare structure is approved.
