Commuters fume over bus fare hike

BENGALURU: People in the state are already reeling under high prices of essential commodities, and now they’ll have to bear a 15 per cent increase in bus fares that will come into effect from Sunday. The state cabinet has approved the fare hike for the four transport corporations including the Karnataka State Road Transportation Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

Commuters are outraged, saying their incomes haven’t increased, and this added burden is unbearable. “Our salaries and income remain the same, and the fare hike is a huge burden”, many commuters said, expressing their anger against the government.

Speaking to Public TV at the Majestic BMTC bus station in Bengaluru, commuters expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision. They questioned the government’s move that to make bus travel free for women while increasing the burden on men.

The state government gave the green signal for the bus fare hike in a cabinet meeting held on Thursday. The new fares will come into effect from Sunday. Meanwhile, people and opposition parties are protesting against the government’s decision.

Ajay, a BMTC bus passenger, said, “It should not be done because most of the people depend on public transport for their regular travel. Of course, it is a burden for common people. This is not a fair decision”.

D R Wage, another regular commuter, said that the government had already provided free travel to women, but men passengers are suffering with increased fares. “The government discriminating against men and women in providing facilities”, he remarked.

Another passenger said the government has done injustice to men. “There is monthly pension, Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Shakti scheme for women, what was the government done for men passengers? All men should get united and protest against the government and oppose freebies”, he asserted.