Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur
Puttur, Jul 5: Following public criticism on social media over overcharging a passenger despite a printed fare, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has withdrawn its round-off fare policy for certain premium bus services.
The incident occurred on July 2, when a passenger boarded a KSRTC sleeper bus from Uppinangady to Alankaru. Although the printed ticket fare was Rs 46, the conductor collected Rs 50. A photo of the ticket was shared widely on social media, drawing attention from former minister Suresh Kumar, who urged the transport minister and relevant authorities to issue a clarification. As criticism grew over the discrepancy, KSRTC issued a statement and revoked its previous round-off fare directive.
The round-off fare system was introduced in 2016 and applied only to select premium buses—around 400 in total—including Rajahamsa, Volvo, and sleeper buses. The policy allowed conductors to round off fares to the nearest multiple of five, primarily due to difficulties in handling coins at AVATAR counters and ITM (Integrated Ticketing Machines). For instance, if the actual fare was Rs 36, Rs 40 could be charged; if it was Rs 41, Rs 45 could be collected, with the rounded-off amount mentioned on the ticket itself.
With the introduction of advanced POS and ITM machines that support UPI payment systems, the need for fare round-off no longer exists. Citing this, KSRTC managing director Akram Pasha issued a circular stating that the round-off fare policy has been officially withdrawn and the practice has been discontinued.