Benagluru, Feb 27: The sudden hike in bus fares by the state-run transport corporation has triggered a public outrage and protests by the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in Karnataka.
Terming the hike as anti-people and inflationary, the Congress urged the ruling BJP to withdraw it forthwith and spare the commuters from the additional burden.
"KSRTC and its affiliates should not further burden the people when the cost of living has gone up and its bus service is used by the majority in the absence of trains in many regions of the state," said Ravi Gowda of the Congress.
In a surprise announcement on Tuesday night, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and its two affiliates -- North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKSRTC )and North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKSRTC) -- increased bus fares by 12% with effect from Wednesday, drawing the ire of commuters and opposition parties alike.
Condemning the fare hike, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy urged the KSRTC to roll back the revised fares and give relief to the common man reeling under price rise due to CGST, SGST and food inflation.
"The BJP government has deliberately increased the bus fare ahead of the state budget for 2020-21 fiscal on March 2, catching people unawares. Though student passes have been spared from the hike, regular passengers are forced to pay Rs 5-32 more instead of getting better efficiency, management and productivity," Kumaraswamy said in a statement in Bengaluru.
It's an additional burden on us, said Bengaluru resident K. Venkatesh, while adding,
"The 12 percent hike in bus fares by the KSRTC and its north-east and north-west affiliates from Wednesday will hit passengers hard and make commuting costly.”
"The fare hike will negate the state government's efforts to encourage public transport service and force passengers to travel on the train, which is cheaper, faster and safer," asserted Venugopal Gupta, a cloth merchant in the city.
Justifying the hike, KSRTC Managing Director Shivayogi Kalasad told media that the hike was inevitable due to the steady increase in diesel price, dearness allowance in staff salary and overall cost of operations.
"Since the last fare revision came in May 2014, the operational cost has gone up substantially due to Rs 11.27 per litre hike in diesel price, increase in DA to employees and repairing, maintenance and fleet management costs," Kalasad said.
The financial burden due to fuel price hike is Rs 261 crore, DA Rs 341 crore and operational cost Rs 601 crore per annum for KSRTC alone, he said.
"For the benefit of rural passengers, fares have been reduced to Rs 5 from Rs 7 for the first 3 km. There is no increase in fares for the first 12 km and up to first 6 km in express service," Kalasad added.
Comments
i dont see 2 fools commenting anything here....naren and viren.....
Let this unity and understand remain between us..If we public live in this attitude the Bajrangeez will leave India.....Jai HInd.......
Manoj
Dragging religion on terrroism - Its also a narrow minded deception from the media.. right . When someone does good it irks others..
Inala lilai wainail rajoon
Nowardays people think Muslim's are bad, even if they do a job still some non Muslim's problem, as per u all know.... Instead praying for them for rest in peace ,bringing religious issues and matter in middle.... My people pray for them ...and leave all hateness between religion.... Pray allah u give them high place and degree in janah
Dear Manoj,
The intention of specifying the rescuer as MUSLIM, is just to show dot those ill minded people who have negative image on all Muslims.
This is the logic behind it. Everybody should know though the choice of religion is their own will/ business. However maintaining harmony with other religion has no bound and no barrier.
Unfortunately religion has been identified in the society as TITLE of Criminals OR Innocents.
We are way behind KERALITES as they live together peacefully with cooperation, in harmony, keeping the religion as their own business.
Religion never says to severe the relation with others.
Let us make our living style also same as Keralites or better than them.
May God Help
Dear Manoj,
The intention of specifying the rescuer as MUSLIM, is just to show dot those ill minded people who have negative image on all Muslims.
This is the logic behind it. Everybody should know though the choice of religion is their own will/ business. However maintaining harmony with other religion has no bound and no barrier.
Unfortunately religion has been identified in the society as TITLE of Criminals OR Innocents.
We are way behind KERALITES as they live together peacefully with cooperation, in harmony, keeping the religion as their own business.
Religion never says to severe the relation with others.
Let us make our living style also same as Keralites or better than them.
May God Help
True Muslim
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiwoon.
May ALLAH grand him Jannathul Firdous - AAMEEN
CD, the heading line seems as COMMUNAL
May All you saved entire human being \ - Holy Quran.lah bless him Jannah In sha Allah. \" Saving one innocent is equa
I salute you, as a great muslim and a great Indian."
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