Private bus owners in Bengaluru, who had been demanding a fare hike due to declining ridership, have decided to suspend their protest following the Karnataka government’s announcement of a 15% fare increase for state-run road transport corporations. This change of heart comes after the introduction of the Shakti Scheme, which offers free bus travel to women and has significantly impacted private bus ridership.
Private bus operators had seen a sharp decline in passengers after the Shakti Scheme took effect, and they were concerned that further fare hikes would make matters worse. They now believe that by keeping fares steady, they might attract commuters who previously relied on state-run buses. S. Nataraj Sharma, President of the Karnataka State Bus Owners Association, explained that the industry has already suffered substantial losses due to the scheme. The association now hopes that if fares remain unchanged, about 10% of government bus passengers might switch to private buses.
While the bus owners have dropped their demand for a fare increase, they are urging the state government to limit the Shakti Scheme’s benefits to specific groups, such as Below Poverty Line (BPL) cardholders, senior citizens, and students, to help balance the competition with private buses.
In related developments, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated that revised fare announcements for auto-rickshaws and taxis are expected soon. He also indicated that the government would consider fare revision requests from private operators based on increased operational costs.
Additionally, the state plans to introduce smart cards for Shakti Scheme beneficiaries at a cost of around Rs 100. These cards will replace the current use of Aadhaar cards and will include all relevant beneficiary details.
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