Karnataka’s Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, on Friday justified the 15% increase in government bus fares, explaining that the revision was necessary due to rising operational costs. This hike has sparked protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with several leaders criticizing the decision. However, Reddy defended the move, claiming that it was an inevitable measure to ensure the sustainability of the state’s bus services.
According to the minister, the daily operational costs, which include fuel and staff expenses, have risen significantly in recent years. In 2020, the daily operational cost stood at ₹12.85 crore. However, this figure has now increased to ₹18.86 crore, with a marked rise in fuel costs, particularly diesel, which saw a jump from ₹9.16 crore to ₹13.21 crore.
Reddy explained that all four state-run transport corporations – Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), KKRTC Kalyana Road Transport Corporation, North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) – had been urging for a fare revision due to escalating costs. As a result, the state government, in a cabinet meeting on Thursday, made the decision to approve the fare hike.
The minister also pointed out that fare revisions were not uncommon, noting that in 2014, when he was the transport minister, bus fares were increased. He highlighted that when diesel prices decreased, the fares were reduced by 2%, a move that helped lower the operational costs.
Reddy also took a dig at the BJP, reminding them of their role in the 2020 fare hike. He pointed out that the then BJP-led government had raised bus fares by 12% in KSRTC, KKRTC, and NWKRTC. Reddy emphasized that BJP leader R Ashoka, who led the current protests, had served as the transport minister in 2020 when the fare increase was implemented.
The Transport Minister further criticized the BJP for their stance against the Shakti scheme, one of the Congress government’s pre-poll guarantees. Reddy defended the scheme, asserting that it has contributed ₹8,800 crore to the four transport corporations. He accused the BJP of opposing the scheme due to its focus on empowering women, suggesting that the BJP’s opposition was rooted in their ideological leanings.
In conclusion, Minister Ramalinga Reddy reassured the public that the fare increase was a necessary step to maintain the financial health of the state’s transport corporations, and he called out the BJP for politicizing the issue. The fare hike is expected to impact the everyday commute of thousands of people who rely on public transportation in the state.
Sources By Agencies