Bus fare hike in Karnataka sparks outrage among commuters amid rising costs

The Karnataka government has decided to implement a 15% hike in bus fares across all four State-run transport corporations, effective on January 5.
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The Karnataka government’s decision to implement a 15% hike in bus fares across all four State-run transport corporations, effective on January 5, has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among commuters. Many expressed concerns over the increased financial burden, particularly daily travellers who rely heavily on public transport.

Girish N. Rao, who takes a BMTC bus everyday for work, said: “For daily commuters like me, this increase means allocating a substantial portion of our income to travel expenses. It feels unfair and poorly timed. With everything becoming more expensive, including essentials, this additional burden is hard to bear. I rely on the airport bus daily for work, which is already costly, and this hike makes it even worse.”

Divya K., a frequent traveller between Bengaluru and Kodagu, said: “Owing to the Shakti scheme, ordinary buses are already overcrowded, forcing people to opt for premium buses. With this fare hike, it is going to be a choice between an expensive journey or an uncomfortable one.”

Data from the Transport Department underscores the increasing reliance on State-run buses. Daily ridership has surged since the introduction of the Shakti scheme, rising from an average of 93.46 lakh passengers to 116.63 lakh, marking an increase of 23.17 lakh daily commuters. While this reflects the scheme’s popularity, it has also put immense pressure on the existing transport infrastructure.

The fare hike has also drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition. BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), accused the government of burdening the public under the pretext of its five guarantee schemes. Referring to the Shakti initiative, he likened it to a “Buy-One-Get-One-Free” marketing gimmick.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok also posted on X and stated, “How many more taxes and fees must Kannadigas pay to satisfy your government’s insatiable greed?”

Fuel and other costs

The implementation of the Shakti scheme has not come without financial strain.

However, KSRTC officials justified the fare revision by citing rising operational costs. “The price of diesel for BMTC was last revised on January 10, 2015, 10 years ago, when it was ₹60.98 per litre. Diesel expenses for the four state transport corporations, which stood at ₹9.16 crore back then, have now risen to ₹13.21 crore,” a senior KSRTC official said while adding, “Additionally, staff expenses have surged from ₹12.85 crore to ₹18.36 crore, resulting in an additional daily burden of ₹9.56 crore.”