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.
Mangaluru, Mar 24: Two college students were arrested by the police in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada for allegedly posting pro-Pakistan slogans during T20 cricket match between India and Pakistan.
Comments
Shame on Indian police for registering this kind of cases as even they know this has no basis in constitution.
they supported a cricket or sports team... even I supported UAE Team..I have my right to support any sports team..
PLEASE SEND SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER TO PAKISTANN PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE
IF HINDHU SAY THAT IS NABOUR CONUTY
IF MUSLIM SAYS HE IS TERROR ACCHE DIN WHA WHA /.
Hope all have gone through below news about shouting slogan in favor of pakistan by Sri Sri ravi shankar ... why you people have not commented on that ....
Pakistan Zindabad....india belong to muslim they ruled for 1000 years, we will take back glory soon.
Mohan; Sharvan, Preethi, Meghana...
Please open your mind and dont fall trap over & over on cheddi media... if You try to accept whatever said in the media again & again even after knowing their LIES ... What should we call U guys...
Dont just make Howdu basava howdu ... for everything which is said in the media ...Use your God given intellectual and stop supporting the aggressor ... cos a day will come when the one who gave this life will account for our deeds done in this LIFE... So stop supporting the aggressor without true knowledge which U might regret later ... as many regretted after becoming voilence with a false statement from the cheddi leaders
Yes these students does not know about what they are talking.
They should be kept behind the bar.
By the way what happened to SRI SRI art of living Swamy who said Pakistan Zindabad??? is he arrested.??
Indians can support any country in any game but when any match is having indian team they should support only india.
@ MEHHNA , PREETHI ,SHARAVAN, MOHAN, KARTHIK ,,
YES WE NEED TO PUNISH THEM HARD , SEND THEM TO PAKISTAN.. EVERYTHING WE WILL DO WT U SAID
SRI SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER SHOULD GO TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE WIL BOOK 3 SEATS IN FLIGHT L
Constitution did not tell citizens to support only Indian team. There is no law saying that, then why on the hell police arrested those innocent people and under which law. In a democracy you have right to chose or support any one you want. Its not a big deal. Pakistan is not our enemy at all, Modiji without informing anyone met Nawaz Sharief, Pakistani PM. It happened because of our friendliness with that country.
I am a good supporter of our Indian team but it does not mean that I impose same on other fellow Indians too.
Grow up guys.
When SRI SRI Shankar said Pakistan Zindabad no action, no arrest,
when a muslim said he is arrested.
INCRIDIBLE INDIA ! WHERE SRI SRI CAN CALL PUBLIC MEETS ! STUDENT JUST TYPED IN WHATSAPP THEY ARE ARRESTED !!
WHEN IS SRI SRI ARREST ! ??????????????/////
if they raised slogans in favor of our arch rival, than take strict action against them. But Please don't touch Desh Bhakt like Ravi shanker !
Send Sri Ravishanker along with Two students from puttur to Pakisthan...Law should be equal for all.Do not bring religion in between.
there is no muslim commentors now ... these two terrorists must be kicked out of india along with their families ... soole maklige they want all benefits here and loyalty to pakistan ... no mercy for these animals .muslims here give big lecturer about religion , but they dont teach manners and basics for their community members .
Yes Mohan should send them pakistan with Ravi sankar...
DEAR PRO-CHADDIS.....
WILL YOU SEND ME SOUTH AFRICA AND ENGLAND IF I SUPPORT HASHIM AMLA AND MOEEN ALI?????
WHEN YOU WILL SEND SRI SRI RAVISHANKAR PAKISTAN FOR CHANTING PAKISTAN ZINDABAD???? WHY NO ACTION ON HIM????
serious action must be taken against them. india the country of peace loving and this type of people misunderstood us for being soft, one thing always should be on head that how much soft we are double to that we could be hard rock.
Pakistan zindabad is slogan of owaisi chaddis. not Bharath matha ki Jai
Now a days its common, need to give proper punishment next time they have to think hundred times before calling this.
both student must be sent to the pakistan, the two dogs of pakistan
me before india started batting: hahahaha we got this wtf pakistAN ZINDABAD
me now: we are brothers and sisters we both win in 1947.....
Add new comment