Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 19: In the backdrop of the recent hike in price of diesel, the transport department is preparing ground to hike bus fare. All the transport corporations in the state have mooted an increase of 20 percent, and have strongly advocated the need to permit hike in bus fare in the light of increasing cost of operations.

Speaking to media persons at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday July 18, transport minister, D C Thammanna, said that all the transport corporations in the state have submitted similar proposals seeking to permit 20 percent hike in fare. He stated that all the corporations are suffering losses on account of frequent increase in taxes on diesel and the government has been requested to release grant of Rs 1,000 crore for enabling the corporations to match the losses suffered by them.

He said that the government-owned transport corporations have been bearing the loss on account of hike in diesel prices. He said that the corporations can successfully move ahead and work efficiently only if fare is hiked and they get grants to match loss suffered so far. In their proposals, these corporations have said that it would be difficult to provide quality service to customers if the increase in price as sought is not approved.

But it is to be seen whether chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, who has been facing flak for hiking several taxes in his recent budget proposals, will permit the hike in government bus fares. In all likelihood, the 20 percent bike will be reduced during the stage of mutual discussions. Many believe that the proposal might be kept pending for the time being.

Thammanna, in the meantime, said that the demand for distribution of free bus passes to students in the state might get the nod shortly. He said that both education and transport corporation, are committed to bear 25 percent of this burden. As such, Kumaraswamy will announce final decision once he comes back to New Delhi, he stated.