With petrol prices increasing by Rs 3.27 per litre and diesel by Rs 3.12 in Bengaluru, a ripple effect is set to impact Karnataka. Private bus operators and school transport providers have announced fare revisions to offset rising operational costs. Parents relying on school buses and vans may soon face higher transportation fees, while commuters using private buses for long-distance travel are also likely to encounter steeper ticket prices.
Private Bus Fares to See Up to 30% Hike
Private bus travel in Karnataka is set to become more expensive, with operators announcing a fare hike of 10-30% following the recent increase in fuel prices. The decision is expected to affect thousands of passengers who rely on private buses for intercity and long-distance travel across the state.
According to S Nataraj Sharma, president of the Karnataka State Bus Owners Association, operators have little choice but to revise fares to sustain services. “Operators are currently facing three major challenges: revenue loss due to the Shakti scheme, repeated increases in toll charges on national highways, and now the hike in diesel price. Under these conditions, fare rationalisation has become unavoidable,” Sharma said. He explained that the increase would vary depending on route-specific operational costs and toll expenses. “On certain corridors, toll costs are already very high. For instance, on the Mysuru route, a roundtrip incurs approximately Rs 900 in toll charges alone. To offset rising operational costs, fares for contract carriage services and All-India permit vehicles will be revised accordingly,” he added.
Industry representatives said the fare revision would affect both contract carriage buses and All-India permit vehicles operating from Bengaluru and other major cities. Operators argue that increasing fuel prices, coupled with stagnant passenger revenues, have made operations financially unsustainable without a fare adjustment.
School Van Fees to Jump 10%
Parents in Bengaluru are likely to face another financial blow as school bus and van operators have announced a hike of at least 10% in transportation fees. The rise in petrol and diesel rates is expected to push up commuting costs across the board, but school transportation is emerging as one of the biggest concerns for families already struggling with rising education expenses.
In Bengaluru, petrol prices have gone up by Rs 3.27 per litre, while diesel prices have increased by Rs 3.12. Operators say the hike has significantly raised their operational costs, leaving them with little choice but to pass the burden on to parents.
GN Ravikumar, president of Karnataka State Private School Vehicle Drivers’ Association, said: “We have no option but to implement a moderate hike. There are indications that fuel prices may rise further in the coming days.” He explained that school transportation charges in Bengaluru are calculated based on distance. “For a 5km stretch, operators charge approximately Rs 2,000 a month. Following the revision, fares are expected to increase by around Rs 200 for the same distance,” he said. Ravikumar added that between 8,000 and 9,000 school vehicles currently operate in the city.
For many parents, the latest hike comes at a time when household budgets are already stretched thin. Ashwini, a parent, expressed frustration over the repeated increases in school-related expenses. “I have already paid my school bus fees for the next academic year, which saw a 15% hike. Now, with the increase in diesel prices, there could be another hike. The school bus fee increase was higher than the actual tuition fee hike. This feels like daylight robbery in the name of education,” she said.
No Immediate Revision: BMTC & KSRTC
The increase in fuel prices is set to further strain the finances of the state’s four road transport corporations, which are already burdened with a cumulative liability of around Rs 7,000 crore. “For the time being, there are no plans to revise fares. However, if fuel prices continue to rise, the impact will be more severe,” a BMTC official added.
Every day, BMTC consumes nearly 3 lakh litres of diesel, and KSRTC about 6 lakh litres. Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed there is no proposal to hike bus fares at present.
CM Slams Centre
Criticising the central government for the hike in fuel prices, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the fuel price hike would hit every home. “In Bengaluru, petrol has crossed Rs 106 per litre and diesel is around Rs 94. This hike will not stop at fuel pumps, it will increase transport costs, vegetable prices, grocery bills, milk prices, construction costs, school van fees, farm input costs, and the price of almost every essential commodity. Farmers, workers, small traders, women managing household budgets, and the middle class will suffer most,” he said. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said the Centre hiking fuel prices is the result of the Modi government not maintaining good relations with other countries.
