KSRTC passenger fare hike

Suchith Kidiyoor

Travelling in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses is becoming more expensive with each passing year. For a change, fuel prices are not to blame. Instead, toll charges are the cause.

With new toll roads coming up in various parts of the state and outside, KSRTC has been forced to hike ticket prices. The KSRTC operates 7,011 services to various destinations in the state and outside. Officials say their buses pay toll at over 40 places.

K A Rajkumar, director (operations), says, “The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is not willing to exempt our buses from toll. We are paying toll on almost all busy highways and the amount adds up to a substantial sum.

“For example, on the Bangalore-Mumbai route, KSRTC buses pay toll at more than six points. Hence, we are adding toll charges to the ticket fare.”

On the Bangalore-Mumbai route, the toll works out to Rs 10 per passenger. On the Chennai route, each passenger shells out Rs 6 as toll charge.

An NHAI official said, “Though state transport undertakings have requested exemption from toll for their vehicles, we can't oblige. They do not fall under the category of non-commercial vehicles.”

The latest addition to the toll list is Chikballapur road.

Rajkumar said, “We operate around 300 buses on Chikballapur road. The major destinations are Chikkaballapur, Hyderabad, Bellary and Puttaparthi. If our buses have to pay toll, we are certainly going to increase the fare.”

If NHAI collects Rs 60 for the 22 km stretch, ticket prices may be hiked by up to Rs 2 per passenger.

Source: Bangalore Mirror