CM reverses hike in bus fares minutes after it was announced

Bengaluru, 18 Sep 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: In order to compensate for the losses due to hike in fuel prices, officials of the State Road Transport Undertakings (SRTUs)- BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC had asked the government to increase the fares by 18-20 per cent. They received the green signal for the hike in fares from transport department, but just after 25 minutes officials informed the media of the hike, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy halted this.

The CM's office said that they can't increase bus fares on the same day as the order was issued to reduce sales tax on petrol and diesel. Officials of the STRUs have commented that they are finding it difficult to run their services with the current fares and that they are facing huge losses to due increasing prices of fuel.

Transport Minister Thamanna also commented saying that since it is a public transport they would provide concessional prices but due to heavy losses they had no option but to go for a price hike in the fares to compensate for the losses.