Private bus owners propose fare hike

Mangaluru: Private city and service bus operators have forwarded a demand to the state government requesting an increase in ticket fares in wake of the hike in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses’ tickets.

Bus operators have stated that there has been no hike in the tickets since 2013. However, in April 2018 the first stage fare was increased by Rs 1. Service buses are reportedly facing a loss of Rs 1.2 per kilometre. Hence, they are demanding that fares be increased to Rs 10 per stage from the present Rs 8 per stage.

Speaking to Udayavani, a bus operator said that there has been a Rs 14 increase in diesel price since 2013 and buses have to pay somewhere close to Rs 750 per day as toll charges. In addition to this, the government also brought out Body Code whereby buses can be built only by approved bus bodybuilders which incurs an additional expense of Rs 2 lakhs on the purchase of a new bus. Hence, it is necessary that the government accedes to our request of the fare hike.

According to Dilraj Alva, president of Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners Association, an increase in road tax has caused a reduction in bus operators operational margins.

Private city and service buses operate in many parts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga, Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Ramanagara, Tumkur, Mysore, Mandya, Bangalore Rural and Chamarajanagar districts.

In coastal Karnataka, about 1200 service and city buses ply everyday.