Journey in Karnataka government-operated buses is dearer by 15% beginning Sunday after the state Cupboard final Thursday determined to hike fares following calls for by the Karnataka State Highway Transport Workers Joint Motion Committee and a powerful protest by Opposition events BJP and Janata Dal (Secular).
The resolution to extend fares got here after the committee known as for a bandh on December 31. In a petition, the committee urged the federal government to clear the Rs 8,010 crore that it owed to the 4 state-run transport firms, together with the Rs 2,000 crore it owed because of the implementation of the Shakti scheme on free bus journey for girls throughout the state. The committee additionally demanded that wage arrears price Rs 1,785 crore, Provident Fund dues price Rs 2,090 crore, and uncleared funds price Rs 325 crore pertaining to dearness allowance even be cleared.
Even because the bandh name was withdrawn on December 30 after the federal government assured it could fulfil the calls for, state Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy mentioned ticket costs have been prone to be revised quickly.
How has the Congress authorities justified its resolution?
Reddy claimed that the fare hike and the permission to lift Rs 2,000 crore by way of loans from monetary establishments was necessitated because of the precarious situation that the companies have been left in by the earlier BJP authorities.
As of March 31, 2019, Reddy mentioned, the 4 Karnataka State Highway Transport Company, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Company, North West Karnataka Highway Transport Company, and Kalyana Karnataka Highway Transport Company had collectively accrued liabilities to the tune of Rs 2,653 crore. In response to the minister, the liabilities surged to Rs 4,099 crore beneath the BJP authorities and by December 2024, the 4 firms had liabilities price Rs 6,250 crore.
Reddy mentioned following the implementation of the Shakti scheme, the income of the companies elevated to Rs 10,147.45 crore as in opposition to the Rs 8,399 crore they garnered within the 2022-23 fiscal when the BJP was in energy.
The federal government has additionally sought to justify its resolution citing the rise in operational prices, particularly because of the hike in diesel costs.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the federal government’s resolution claiming all earlier dispensations revised bus fares. “For the reason that final revision in 2020, the costs of diesel in addition to procuring buses have additionally risen. The hike in fares will even consequence within the improve of salaries for workers,” he mentioned.
How did the Opposition reply?
After the federal government hiked fares, the BJP hit the streets with occasion leaders greeting commuters on the Majestic Bus Stand in Bengaluru with roses and “apologising” to them on the federal government’s behalf.
Through the protest, Karnataka Chief of Opposition R Ashoka was concerned in an unpleasant spat with a police official, triggering accusations from the Congress that he had abused the policeman.
Earlier, Ashoka accused the state authorities of “extorting the frequent man” in come what may because it assumed energy in 2023. “Siddaramaiah is sucking the blood of Kannadigas by climbing one worth or the opposite day-after-day,” he mentioned.
Union Minister and JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy additionally lashed out on the authorities over the transfer. “The state authorities is looking for excuses to cease its ensures and wish to discontinue them,” he mentioned.
Likening the federal government’s insurance policies to “taking cash from one pocket to place it into one other”, Kumaraswamy mentioned, “Is that this authorities robbing folks to offer them their very own advantages? The bus fare hike will burden the frequent man. No minister’s kids or MLA’s kids journey in authorities buses. Solely frequent folks use them. Even a further Rs 10 per day is a burden for them,” he mentioned.
How usually have ticket costs been hiked earlier?
The newest 15% hike is the only largest since 2006. Between 2006 and 2025, ticket fares have been revised 13 occasions, the final earlier than Sunday’s revision coming in February 2020.
Earlier than Sunday, the earlier greatest leap in fares got here in August 2008, when the federal government hiked costs by 12.01% adopted by 12% every in February 2020 and September 2012.
The Congress has used the hike to level out that ticket fares have been elevated seven occasions in the course of the BJP authorities’s tenure between 2008 and 2013 when Ashoka was the transport minister.
Between 2013 and 2018, when the Congress was on the helm of the state, ticket costs have been revised thrice: a ten.5% spike in July 2016, a 7.96% hike in Could 2014 and a 2% lower in January 2015.
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