Bengaluru: Bus travel in Karnataka is set to become significantly more expensive, with the state government announcing a steep hike in fares across its public transport network. The revised rates will come into effect from midnight on November 5, covering services operated by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).
Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said the fare revision was necessary to overcome the mounting financial burden faced by the state’s transport corporations. Under the new structure, BMTC fares in Bengaluru will increase by 35 per cent, while bus fares in other parts of Karnataka will go up by approximately 23 per cent.
The hike will affect passengers travelling on city, rural and long-distance routes, adding to the cost of daily commuting as well as intercity journeys.
In Bengaluru, the minimum ticket fare on BMTC buses has been increased from ₹6 to ₹10. The revised fares will also apply to long-distance services operated by transport corporations, including KSRTC. Passengers using premium air-conditioned services such as Vajra and Vayu Vajra in Bengaluru will also have to pay higher ticket prices.
The government has cited the financial difficulties of transport corporations as the reason for the increase. Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said the fare revision was essential to keep the public transport system financially sustainable and meet the corporations’ financial obligations.
The decision comes amid the continuation of the Shakti scheme, introduced by the Congress government after coming to power in Karnataka. The scheme provides women with free bus travel on eligible state-run services. The minister has maintained that the fare increase is necessary to sustain the transport corporations while continuing the scheme.
The revision places an additional financial burden on bus passengers across Karnataka. From midnight on November 5, commuters using KSRTC and BMTC services will have to pay according to the revised fare structure, with Bengaluru witnessing the steepest increase.
