Mangaluru: Private buses hike fares

Mangaluru: Private express buses to Kundapura, Udupi and Karkala from the city have increased the prices of their tickets by Re 1 from February 9. This was done as a result of the toll fee hike.

Rajavarma Ballal, president of the Canara Bus Owners Association stated that everyday buses have to pay toll charges of Rs 700 while going to Karkala and Rs 1500 while going to Kundapura, hence the hike in tickets prices.

Ballal also stated that the Association has written to the Prime Minister requesting exemption of public transport buses from toll charges and reverting to the previous of collecting toll only once in a day. He further claimed that the Prime Minister Office has sent the letter to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) but NHAI has not yet responded on the matter.