Bus fare hike announcement scheduled for Wednesday

The official announcement regarding the bus fare increase is scheduled for Wednesday, which will lead to a significant hike in bus fares across Bengaluru city. The three-member ‘Public Transport Fare Control Committee,’ chaired by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari, recommended increasing bus fares by 25% in the scope of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, and by 40% in the scope of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The committee also warned that the transport corporations would face 'severe difficulties' if the fares were not increased. Minister for Transport Bairathi Suresh announced on Tuesday that the proposed fare increase is 'more than necessary' and that the actual increase 'will not be that much'.