The Karnataka government is expected to announce revised fares for state-run buses on November 4, according to a Goodreturns report published on November 3. The new rates are likely to come into effect from November 5, though the exact increase has not been made public yet.
Key points
- A meeting of senior officials and heads of the four road transport corporations will decide the revised fares.
- The government says the increase will be made in phases, not as a single hike.
- The minister says the corporations together lose about Rs 2,000 crore a year and that diesel costs have risen.
- The BJP has opposed the proposal and demanded that it be withdrawn.
What the government has said
Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh said a meeting with senior officials and the heads of Karnataka's four road transport corporations would decide the new fares. He said the revision would be carried out in phases. A committee had recommended a large increase, he said, but the government is concerned about the financial burden on passengers.
The government has given rising operating costs and financial losses as the main reasons for the proposal. According to the minister, the four corporations together lose around Rs 2,000 crore every year. He also said repeated diesel price increases by the Centre have added to the burden, and that diesel has become costlier by about Rs 15 to Rs 16 per litre since the previous fare revision in December 2025. The four corporations together run 26,054 buses across the state.
What the fare committee recommended
Deccan Herald, quoted in the report, said a three-member Public Transport Fare Regulatory Committee headed by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari had recommended a 25% hike for KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC, and 40% for BMTC. The Transport Department formed the committee on July 10.
The corporations had sought more. In June, KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC asked for a 33% increase, while BMTC asked for 40%. Some other reports put the BMTC demand at about 44%. Deccan Herald also reported that the four corporations last raised fares by 15% in January 2025. This differs from the minister's reference to a December 2025 revision, and the source does not explain the difference.
Reaction and what comes next
The proposal comes only days after the government raised Nandini milk prices, which has added to worries about household spending. The Opposition has criticised the move. BJP leaders have accused the Congress government of adding to the burden on low-income families. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka has demanded that the government withdraw the proposed hike and said the BJP would take to the streets.
For daily commuters, the key detail to watch is the announcement expected on November 4. It should show how much fares will go up in the first phase and whether the changes apply equally to KSRTC, NWKRTC, KKRTC and BMTC buses. The report does not give those figures yet.
