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Bus fares are likely to go up following the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel. According to sources, the BMTC and KSRTC are working out proposals on fare revision to submit to the State Government.

After the previous fuel hike the BMTC increased its ticket rates but spared the passes. This time round pass-holders may not be as lucky. “We are looking at revising the cost of passes to make good the loss following the hike,� said BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathi. According to him, the fuel price hike will cost the BMTC Rs 17 crore more per annum. “As per a Government circular, if the hike creates a burden of over Rs 11.7 crore on the corporation, we can revise the fare. The hike is inevitable if we need to meet our expenses,� he added.

As for the KSRTC, Transport Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge has hinted at the possibility of a fare hike. However, according to sources, the revised fare structure will be framed within the maximum ceiling allowed by the Government. The Government has set the maximum limit of fare hike at 55 paise per kilometre for ordinary service of state carriages, 65 paise for express and Re 1 for super-deluxe service.

The KSRTC is also pitching for an alternative to tide over the additional burden: introduction of a differential rate for fuel and tax concessions. “The KSRTC is an enterprise, but we are public utility providers. We should be given concessions in terms of fuel costs and taxes, so that we do not pass on the burden to the public each time the Centre revises petrol and diesel rates,� said a senior KSRTC official.

Meanwhile, truck freight rates may not go up as yet. According to Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Associations (KSLOAA) President G R Shanmugappa, “any increase in rates is not possible as we cannot burden the consumers any more.� The KSLOAA is now demanding that diesel be brought under Value Added Tax, which will reduce the cost of diesel.
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