Deepavali rush: Private carriers double fares for long-distance bus travel

Mangaluru: Like every year, private bus carriers have again resorted to hiking ticket prices on the pretext of the Deepavali rush. Fares have been doubled, forcing travelers to pay more money than on normal days.

People travel from the big cities of Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Hubli to their native places for Deepavali festivities. This increased the demand for bus tickets.

On normal days, travel between Mangaluru and Bengaluru would cost between Rs 1,000 to R 2,000 per person. However, passengers complained they had shelled out up to Rs 3,000 per person for one way ticket during the Deepavali season.

The bus fare for travel on October 30, on which most would return to the big cities, is being quoted at Rs 3,000.

Meanwhile, the government-run Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced that additional buses will be pressed into action due to the high demand. Additional buses on will be introduced on weekends from Mangaluru to destinations such as Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Hubballi, it said.