BANGALORE: Bus fares are likely to be increased in the State once the Centre revises the fuel prices. Though Transport Minister N. Cheluvaraya Swamy on Tuesday announced that the proposal to revise bus fares had been put on hold owing to public outcry, the reason behind the decision was otherwise.

The Government has reportedly promised the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation that their demand for a fare revision will be considered once the Centre increases the fuel prices.

The Centre has deferred its decision on revising the fuel prices despite the demand for it by oil companies in view of the Assembly elections in five States. The fuel prices are bound to go up after the elections and the State transport undertakings will again approach the Government with their demand for revision of fares. Sources in the secretariat said that the Government felt it was not proper to allow these transport corporations to increase fares at this juncture as fuel prices were increased in September last. Had the revision been done immediately after the increase in fuel prices (in September), there would not have been much opposition to it. Moreover, the move would dent the image of the coalition Government, they added. Sources in the KSRTC said that there was no need for the corporations to seek a fare revision at present. Admitting the fact that increased operational efficiency would improve the performance of these corporations, the sources said heads of the KSRTC's divisions should be made accountable for lopsided performance.

If revenue generation was improved just by five per cent, the impact of the earlier fuel price hike could be neutralised. While the Transport Minister recently announced that the fare would be increased by five to seven per cent in response to the fuel price increase in September last, the fare hike would not be less than 10 per cent, the sources said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail