Transport department to crack down on private bus operators for jacking up fares during holidays

BENGALURU: The Transport Department is planning to crack down on private bus operators across the state who jack up fares exorbitantly during festivals. All joint commissioners in the state have been directed to take action strict against operators who increase fares.

Transport Department Additional Commissioner Mallikarjun said the steep fare hike has come to the notice of the department and directions have been issued to initiate action. The hike is marginal compared to last year, but there are complaints that tickets are not fairly priced, he noted.

The additional commissioner said officers will crack down against such practices from Tuesday itself and strict action will be taken against private bus operators for violation, including cancellation of vehicle registration.

With a string of holidays coming up, including the second Saturday and the Deepavali festival, private bus operators had almost tripled fares to various destinations.

The hike fare chart is below:

Bengaluru-Shivamoga (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 500-Rs 700
November 10: Rs 1,500- Rs 2,000

Bengaluru-Shivamoga(AC)

November 6: Rs 600-Rs 700.
November 10: Rs 2,000 Rs 2,500.

Bengaluru-Hubballi (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 600-Rs 800.
November 10: 1,600 Rs 2,000.

Bengaluru-Hubballi (AC)

November 6: Rs750-Rs 1,200.
November 10 rate Rs 1700- Rs 1800

Bengaluru-Mangaluru (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 650-Rs 700.
November 10: Rs 1,600-Rs 1,900

Bengaluru-Magaluru (AC)

November 6: Rs 850-Rs 950.
November 10: Rs 2,000-Rs 2,500.

Bengaluru-Udupi (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 700-Rs 850.
November 10: Rs 1,600-Rs 2,000.

Bengaluru-Udupi (AC)

November 6: Rs 900- Rs 1,000.
November 10: Rs 2,000-Rs 2,500.

Bengaluru-Dharwad (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 650-Rs 800.
November 10: Rs 1,600-Rs 2,000.

Bengaluru-Dharwad (AC)

November 6: Rs 800-Rs 1,200.
November 10: Rs 2,000- Rs 3,000.

Bengaluru-Belagavi (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 700- Rs 800.
November 10: Rs 2,000-Rs 2,800

Bengaluru-Belagavi (AC)

November 6: Rs 1,000-Rs 1,500.
November 10: Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000.

Bengaluru-Kalaburgi (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 900-Rs 1,200.
November 10: Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000.

Bengaluru-Kalaburgi (AC)

November 6: Rs 900-Rs 1,300.
November 10: Rs 3,100-Rs 3,800.

Bengaluru – Bidar (Non AC)

November 6:: 800 Rs. – 900 Rs.
November 10: Rs.2500-Rs.3000

Bengaluru-Bidar (AC)

November 6: Rs 900-Rs 1,300.
November 10: Rs 3,150-Rs 3,800.

Bengaluru-Raichur (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 650- Rs 900.
November 10: Rs 1,500-Rs 1,950.

Bengaluru-Raichur (AC)

November 6: Rs 900-Rs 1,000.
November 10: Rs 1,800-Rs 2,000.

Bengaluru–Vijayapura (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 550-Rs 1,000,
November 10: Rs 1,900-Rs 2,200.

Bengaluru-Vijayapura (AC)

November 6: Rs 800-Rs 1200.
November 10: Rs 2,500-Rs 2,900.

Bengaluru-Madikeri (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 500-Rs 600.
November 10: Rs 1,000-Rs 1,800.

Bengaluru-Madikeri (AC)

November 6: Rs 700-Rs 850.
November 10: Rs 1,750-Rs 2,000.

Destinations Outside Karnataka

Bengaluru-Chennai (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 350-Rs 550.
November 10: Rs 1,600-Rs 1,800.

Bengaluru-Chennai (AC)

November 6: Rs 600-Rs 1,100.
November 10: Rs 1,850-Rs 2,300.

Bengaluru-Hyderabad (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 600-Rs 900.
November 10: Rs 1,800-Rs 2,500.

Bengaluru-Hyderabad (AC)

November 6: Rs 1,300-Rs 1,700.
November 10: Rs 2,900-Rs 3,800.

Bengaluru-Mumbai (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 1,200-Rs 1,600.
November 10: Rs 2,500-Rs 3,000.

Bengaluru-Mumbai (AC)

November 6: Rs 1,300-Rs 1,500.
November 10: Rs 3,000-Rs 3,500.

Bengaluru-Goa (Non AC)

November 6: Rs 650-Rs 900.
November 10: Rs 2,600-Rs 2,800.

Bengaluru-Goa (AC)

November 6: Rs 1,000-Rs 1,300.
November 10: Rs 3,500-Rs 3,700.

Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said action will be taken against violators.

“Private bus operators jack up fares by twice or thrice the normal fares during festivals like Ganesha Chaturti, Dasara and Deepavali. During Ganesha Chaturti, our officials filed over 700 cases against the operators and imposed lakhs in fines. Again, during Dasara, fares were hiked. Now, with Deepavali coming up, they are raising fares again. Despite action and penalties they are raising fares. We will have to see if rules have to be changed to take strict action against them. The state-run transport corporations are running additional buses to meet the demand”, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said.