Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 15: The Karnataka Congress clarified on Monday that there will be no hike in bus fares by the State Road Transport Corporation, dismissing recent reports suggesting otherwise. The party stated on X that the transport minister has not proposed any fare increases to the government.
The Congress also criticized BJP leaders, urging them to "stop spreading lies" and instead address the rising costs of auto parts, fuel, and train fares over the past decade. The post emphasized that the burden on state governments is due to the central government's price hike policies.
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BJP leaders, including Tejasvi Surya, criticized the Congress government, attributing the rumored fare hike to the party's "Khatakhat Model of Governance."
However, KSRTC chairperson SR Srinivas said on Sunday that a proposal for a 15 to 20 percent fare hike had been submitted to the government. "We had a board meeting two days ago. We have proposed a hike of 15 to 20 percent. The final decision rests with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. If KSRTC is to survive, a fare hike is inevitable," he said.
Srinivas pointed out that while fuel and auto part prices have increased significantly, bus fares have not been raised since 2019. He also mentioned that the salary revision for KSRTC employees has been pending since 2020, making the fare increase necessary.
According to Srinivas, the corporation has suffered a loss of Rs 295 crore in the last three months. Addressing concerns about the potential burden on male passengers since women can travel for free under the 'Shakti' scheme, Srinivas clarified that the state government continues to cover the costs for women traveling in buses, ensuring that the burden is not solely on men.