Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 23: A number of passengers travelling by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses have complained that the government bus fare has been unreasonably and suddenly revised upward without notice. The reason being put forth is the toll charges being levied for vehicles at the newly opened tollgate at National Institute of Technology Karnataka at Suratkal.

The toll plaza on national highway 66 at Suratkal began functioning after obtaining all permissions and clearances, on Sunday last. KSRTC has increased bus for express buses by five rupees per ticket and six rupees per ticket for Volvo, deluxe, semi deluxe, sleeper, and air-conditioned buses. The people find it hard to digest this steep increase as they feel it to be unrealistic.

Volvo buses, which cross the tollgate a number of times every day, are levied a flat charge of Rs 230 per day. As such, for ten Volvo buses, KSRTC pays Rs 2,300 as toll charges everyday. KSRTC sources said that they have increased the fare as per the instructions received from their central office at Bengaluru. KSRTC divisional controller said discussions with tollgate operators would be held soon to decide about whether the corporation would be required to pay charges on daily basis or monthly.

Sources pointed out that private buses moving on this route have not increased their fare. One of the passengers said that collection of six rupees per person for Volvo buses would bring a revenue of Rs 238 per one-way trip for the corporation, taking into account that the buses carry around 38 passengers. "Toll charges for ten trips for a bus is Rs 230 per day, whereas KSRTC's hike brings it the entire revenue required to pay these charges in a single trip," he calculated. He stated that KSRTC will stand to gain heavily, taking into account number of buses moving on this route. The corporation is expected to reduce the fare, taking into account falling prices of diesel over a period. Instead, it has resorted to increase the burden on its consumers, he rued.

Many daily commuters on KSRTC Volvo buses are up in arms against this increase, which they find to be arbitrary, unjust, and too steep.