Bengaluru: With a cluster of holidays coinciding with the weekend and Republic Day on Monday, private bus operators in Karnataka have once again come under fire for sharply increasing ticket fares, leaving thousands of passengers distressed and struggling to finalise their travel plans. As people rush to visit their native places, relatives, or tourist destinations, private bus fares on major routes from Bengaluru have reportedly doubled overnight.

The sudden surge in prices has affected daily wage earners, private sector employees, and families alike, particularly those working in Bengaluru who traditionally depend on private buses for long-distance travel. Passengers allege that private operators have exploited the predictable holiday rush to maximise profits, without any effective regulatory intervention.

Fares double overnight on key routes

According to travellers, journeys that are reasonably priced on normal days have now become prohibitively expensive. Sleeper bus tickets that typically cost between Rs 500 and Rs 800 — or up to Rs 1,000 on peak weekdays — have now crossed Rs 2,000 on several routes.

On the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route, where passengers usually pay between Rs 500 and Rs 800, fares have surged to Rs 1,400–Rs 2,000. Similarly, tickets from Bengaluru to Udupi, earlier priced at Rs 600–Rs 750, are now being sold for Rs 1,650–Rs 1,699.

Travellers heading to hill and temple towns have also been hit hard. On the Bengaluru–Chikkamagaluru route, fares that normally range between Rs 550 and Rs 600 have shot up to Rs 1,500–Rs 1,600. The Bengaluru–Hassan route now costs Rs 1,000–Rs 1,200, compared to the usual Rs 650–Rs 850.

One of the steepest hikes has been recorded on the Bengaluru–Belagavi route, where fares have jumped from Rs 1,200–Rs 1,300 to as high as Rs 2,500–Rs 3,000, leaving many passengers shocked.

Families most affected during long weekend

With Republic Day falling on Monday, many families had planned short trips or visits to their hometowns, expecting a long weekend break. However, the steep fare hike has forced several to reconsider or cancel their travel plans altogether.

Passengers travelling with children and elderly family members said the price increase has placed a heavy financial burden on them. “A family of four now has to spend nearly Rs 8,000 just on one-way travel. That is unreasonable,” said a private sector employee planning to travel to coastal Karnataka.

Many passengers said that despite preferring private buses for their comfort, punctuality, and overnight travel convenience, they are now being forced to opt for Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses due to affordability concerns.

Accusations of unscientific and unfair pricing

Travellers have described the fare hike as unscientific and unjustified, alleging that private operators routinely raise ticket prices whenever holidays or festivals approach. According to commuters, the hikes are often implemented overnight, leaving no room for passengers to plan alternatives.

“This happens every festival and every long weekend. The fares are increased without any logic. There is no transparency,” said a passenger who regularly travels between Bengaluru and Mangaluru.

Such complaints are not new. Similar fare hikes have been reported during major festivals such as Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankranti, with little change in enforcement or policy response.

Transport department faces criticism

The transport department has once again come under criticism for failing to regulate private bus fares effectively. Although authorities had earlier issued warnings of licence cancellation and action against operators indulging in excessive fare hikes, passengers say no concrete steps have been taken.

As a result, private bus operators continue to increase fares unchecked, especially during peak travel periods. Passenger associations have demanded stricter monitoring, fare caps during holidays, and greater transparency in pricing mechanisms.

Conclusion

As holiday travel demand continues to rise, commuters are calling for urgent intervention by the transport department to protect passengers from what they describe as exploitative practices. Without effective regulation, travellers fear that steep and arbitrary fare hikes by private bus operators will remain a recurring issue during every festive and holiday season.