No free bus passes to students: Transport Department

Bengaluru: The State Transport Department ruled out the free bus pass facilities to students after the rapid fuel hike in the country. 

Minister D C Thammana said that the department will not be issuing free bus passes to the students this year citing that the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) was going under losses.

The cost of the bus passes for students in schools and pre-university college ranges from Rs.200 to Rs.1,100. 

Former CM Siddaramaiah had announced in his last budget that free bus passes will be issued to students.

However, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has maintained all the welfare schemes put in place by Siddaramaiah except that there is no mention of the bus pass scheme.

To recover the losses due to rise in fuel prices, the officials in the (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and BMTC have asked the government to increase bus fares by 18-20% and also to add 2% cess on property tax across Bengaluru.