Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 8: State transport ministry, which had been dilly-dallying in the matter of reducing bus fares consequent to considerable decline in diesel prices, and had maintained suspense over whether the fare reduction will come through or not till yesterday, announced reduction in fares nominally on Wednesday. This reduction will come into effect since Friday January 9 midnight.

Announcing that fares will go down by between two and eleven rupees in different stages within the jurisdictions of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, North Eastern Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and North West Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation limits, transport minister, Ramalinga Reddy said that this reduction had been brought in tune with the assurance given by the chief minister during the assembly session. However, for buses within the city, the reduction will be one rupee.

Although reduction has been given affect to across the board, bus pass and air-condition bus fares will stay at the present level. However, the fare now reduced has been  negligible.

The  minister said that reduction of fare in ordinary buses will be one to two rupees, whereas the passengers opting for express buses will pay one to eleven rupees less. In city buses plying in district centres, one to two rupees has been reduced, whereas bus pass rates for students will be reduced after March, he added.