In Karnataka Bengaluru:After the recent hike in milk prices, people in Karnataka have to face another price hike. The state government has increased bus fares across all four transport corporations – KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC. KSRTC fares have been hiked by up to Rs 9.Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh shared the details of the fare revision.
BMTC Fare Hike Details:The BMTC ordinary bus ticket fare has also been increased. The minimum ticket price per stage has been increased from Rs 6 to Rs 10. The last stage fare of Vayu Vajra buses has been increased from Rs 75 to Rs 90.The government had earlier allowed the four corporations to revise fares in view of rising diesel prices and staff costs. The Minister said that in the last 10 years, bus fares were hiked only once, and opposition parties are making false allegations in this regard.
He said a committee was formed in 2021 under M.R. Srinivasa Murthy to study financial self-reliance and resource mobilisation. The committee had recommended fare hike among other measures, but no decision was taken then. Later in 2026, a Public Transport Fare Control Committee was formed under Atul Kumar Tiwari, which has submitted its report to the government.Karnataka Has Largest Network:Explaining the need for hike, the Minister said fare revision has become inevitable due to the financial condition of corporations, diesel price hike and staff maintenance costs.He said Karnataka has the largest public transport network in South India. A total of 26,125 buses operate in the four corporations, with 1,03,646 employees working. Buses run on 24,179 routes daily, carrying about 1.24 crore passengers every day using government bus services.
No Loss Due to Shakti Scheme: The Minister rejected opposition allegations that corporations are incurring losses due to the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel to women.”Corporations are not bearing the cost of free travel on their own. The ticket amount for women’s travel under Shakti is paid by the state government to the corporations. About Rs 5,000 crore is due from the government under the scheme and it will be released in phases,” he clarified.,He added that Shakti is not the reason for losses and corporations are not in loss due to it.
Financial Burden on Corporations:Giving details of expenses, the Minister said:- Diesel price increased by Rs 10.47 per litre- About 80% of total expenditure goes to diesel and staff- Rs 5,694 crore is spent per year on diesel alone- Due to price hike, an additional burden of Rs 500 crore per year- Rs 1,111.88 crore diesel dues pending- Salaries of employees were increased in 2024- Total liability of corporations is Rs 7,719 crore and debt is Rs 2,192 crore;, New Fare List From Bengaluru:Under the new revision, fares have been increased based on kilometre and stage, not on overall percentage.For example, fare from Bengaluru’s Majestic to Nelamangala, which was Rs 35 earlier, has now increased to Rs 44. Similarly, Majestic to Hoskote fare has increased from Rs 35 to Rs 44. Passengers on these routes will have to pay Rs 9 extra per ticket.
Ordinary Buses from Bengaluru:- Nelamangala: Rs 35 to Rs 44- Hoskote: Rs 35 to Rs 44- Doddaballapur: Rs 38 to Rs 47- Anekal: Rs 38 to Rs 47- Magadi: Rs 46 to Rs 57- Malur: Rs 46 to Rs 57
Vegadoota Express Buses:- Kolar: Rs 81 to Rs 100- Tumakuru: Rs 81 to Rs 100- Mandya: Rs 110 to Rs 136- Mysuru: Rs 160 to Rs 197- Hassan: Rs 219 to Rs 270- Chikkamagaluru: Rs 295 to Rs 363 – an increase of Rs 68, the highest among listed routes.The revision does not include toll charges, bridge charges and advance reservation charges.BMTC City Routes Also Hiked:BMTC ordinary fares have been revised by Rs 4 for up to 2 km, Rs 6 for 2-4 km, and up to Rs 12 for long distance.
Revised BMTC Ordinary Fares:- Majestic-Shivajinagar: Rs 12 to Rs 18- Majestic-Yeshwantpur: Rs 18 to Rs 25- Majestic-Banashankari: Rs 23 to Rs 35- Majestic-Attibele: Rs 30 to Rs 42- Majestic-Vijayanagar: Rs 18 to Rs 25- Majestic-Kadugodi: Rs 30 to Rs 40- K.R. Market-Nelamangala: Rs 30 to Rs 40- K.R. Market-Hoskote: Rs 30 to Rs 40Vajra AC Bus Fare HikeVajra AC bus fares also hiked by Rs 5 up to 6 km, Rs 10 for 6-18 km and up to Rs 15 for long distance.
