15% Bus Fare Hike in Karnataka: Minister Blames BJP for ₹5,900 Crore Debt

Bengaluru: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy defended the state government’s move of hiking bus fares of the state’s four transport corporation by 15 %. He said previous BJP government is responsible for this hike, alleging that  the previous government left behind a debt of ₹5,900 crore.

Highlighting the rising costs, he explained that daily operational and salary expenses have surged. Diesel costs have increased from ₹9 crore to ₹13 crore per day, while salaries have risen from ₹12 crore to ₹18 crore per day. This results in a daily burden of over ₹10 crore on transport corporations, he added.

The minister criticized the central government, stating that diesel prices, which were ₹60 in 2020, have now risen to ₹90. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reduce diesel prices and then allow the BJP to question the fare hike. "If the BJP government hadn’t taken on such massive debt, the Congress wouldn’t have had to raise fares," he remarked.

He pointed out that in January 2020, during B.S. Yediyurappa’s tenure as Chief Minister, bus fares were increased by 12%. "The BJP has no moral right to question the fare hike now," he asserted.

Reddy explained that revenue from ticket sales is insufficient to meet the rising operational and salary costs, making the fare hike necessary. He clarified that the fare increase is unrelated to the funds provided by the state government for the Shakti Scheme, which offers free bus travel for women.

He further stated that the fare revision was also a demand from transport corporation employees. While male passengers’ frustration with the fare hike is understandable, the BJP lacks the moral authority to criticize, he added. He also accused the BJP of being against schemes benefiting women.

"No matter what the BJP does or how much propaganda they spread against the government, Congress will return to power, and the BJP’s influence will diminish further," he said. The fare hike proposal had been submitted by the state’s four transport corporations six months ago, and it has now been implemented, he concluded.