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Bus fare hike shock for state passengers
In Short
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, the minister said the four state transport corporations — KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC — had been given the freedom to revise fares.
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Bengalur: Following the recent increase in milk prices, commuters in Karnataka are set to face another price hike, with revised bus fares coming into effect from midnight on Wednesday. Transport Minister Bhairathi Suresh announced that KSRTC fares would increase by up to ₹9, depending on the distance travelled.
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, the minister said the four state transport corporations — KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC — had been given the freedom to revise fares. He pointed out that the state had witnessed only one fare revision over a long period of nearly 10 years, while also referring to the fare increase made in 2025.
Highlighting the scale of Karnataka’s public transport network, Suresh said the four corporations operate 26,125 buses, the largest fleet in South India. They employ 1,03,646 people and operate services on 24,179 routes, carrying around 1.24 crore passengers every day.
The minister rejected Opposition allegations that the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel to women, had pushed transport corporations into losses. He said the State Government reimburses the corporations for the full cost of women’s travel and releases the funds periodically.Explaining the financial pressures behind the fare revision, Suresh said diesel prices had increased by ₹10.47 per litre and nearly 80 per cent of the corporations’ expenditure went towards diesel and staff costs.
The corporations spent ₹5,694 crore on diesel annually, while the increase in fuel prices had added an annual burden of ₹500 crore. He also cited pending diesel dues of ₹1,111.88 crore, salary-related liabilities of ₹7,719 crore and outstanding loans of ₹2,192 crore. The government had assured that the ₹5,000 crore due under the Shakti scheme would be released in phases, he said.
The minister clarified that the revision was not based on a uniform percentage increase but on kilometres travelled and fare stages. Depending on the route, the increase would range from a minimum amount for shorter journeys to a maximum of ₹9 for longer suburban trips.
Revised fares from Bengaluru
For ordinary services, fares to Nelamangala and Hoskote will rise from ₹35 to ₹44; Doddaballapur and Anekal from ₹38 to ₹47; and Magadi and Malur from ₹46 to ₹57.For express services, fares to Kolar and Tumakuru will increase from ₹81 to ₹100, Mandya from ₹110 to ₹136, Mysuru from ₹160 to ₹197, Hassan from ₹219 to ₹270 and Chikkamagaluru from ₹295 to ₹363.
BMTC ordinary services
The fare from Majestic to Shivajinagar will increase from ₹12 to ₹18, Yeshwanthpur from ₹18 to ₹25, Banashankari from ₹23 to ₹35, Attibele from ₹30 to ₹42, Vijayanagar from ₹18 to ₹25 and Kadugodi from ₹30 to ₹40. From KR Market, fares to Nelamangala and Hoskote will rise from ₹30 to ₹40. Under the revised BMTC fare structure, journeys up to 2 km will cost ₹4 more, while journeys between 2 km and 4 km will cost ₹6 more.
