Kasargod: Hike in KSRTC bus fare proves burdensome for commuters

Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Jun 22: The hike in bus fare imposed by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) for their buses plying between Mangalore and Kasargod has given rise to problems for people who regularly travel through these buses on this route.

After KSRTC decided to unilaterally increase its ticket prices on this route a week back, people living on Karnataka-Kerala border find travel through these buses unaffordable. At the same time, private buses plying on this route have not made any changes in their charges.

While Kerala government buses charge about Rs 40 for travel between Kasargod and Mangalore, Karnataka buses collect Rs 45 for the same journey. This has made the commuters to shell out different rates for different buses. Karnataka buses charge stage-wise rates till Kerala border, Talapady. They however, have not affected any increase in bus fare between Talapady and Kasargod, and hence, have retained the fares that are equal to the ones charged by Kerala buses on this stretch.

It is learnt that Kerala government buses will also affect a hike in fares, once the corporation issues a circular for the same. Once that happens, fares charged by both government buses will be on par.

The financial burden has become particularly heavy for hundreds students, employed persons, labourers, and others who use these buses daily. There has been a widespread resentment against the steep hike in the bus fares by Karnataka government buses. The student communities as well as passengers living in the border areas are particularly affected by the hike because of non-extension of thebenefit of concessional fare to students and shortage of private buses. They have therefore, urged Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation to lessen their burden by lowering the fare to the previous level at the earliest.