Bus commuters’ forum demands rollback of fare hike in Karnataka

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Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike argued that further increases in fares could discourage bus travel and affect fare revenue. | Photo Credit: File Photo

The Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike has demanded that the State government immediately withdraw the recent increase in bus fares across State-run transport corporations, including the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

In a press release, the commuters’ forum strongly condemned the fare revision and called for consultations with bus passengers, workers’ unions and other commuter groups before taking decisions on fare structures.

The forum said the increase would disproportionately affect working-class people who depend on buses for their daily commute, including street vendors, garment workers, domestic workers, construction workers, pourakarmikas and students. Even a small increase in daily travel expenses could add up to a substantial amount over a month, forcing families to cut down on essential expenses such as food and education, it said.

It also warned that higher fares could push some commuters to walk long distances or shift to two-wheelers and other modes of transport. Others could turn to the metro, where fares for longer journeys could be considerably higher.

Questioning the financial rationale behind the hike, the forum pointed out that BMTC’s reported daily ridership fell from 38.03 lakh to 35.85 lakh passengers following the January 2025 fare revision. It argued that further increases could discourage bus travel and affect fare revenue.

It called on both the Union and State governments to share responsibility for the financial difficulties faced by public transport corporations. The Union government should consider reducing fuel taxes, providing subsidised diesel or direct financial assistance to public bus services, it said.

The forum also raised concerns over lease-based electric bus procurement models, arguing that they could create long-term financial liabilities for transport corporations.

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