People traveling in roadways buses in Karnataka will now have to loosen their pockets. The cabinet has approved the proposal to increase the fare of roadways buses by 15 percent. This increase in bus fares will come into effect from January 5. 

Actually, the ruling Congress in Karnataka had promised during the assembly elections that if it came to power, it would start free bus travel for women. After coming to power, the state government fulfilled this promise but its burden started falling on the State Road Transport Corporation. Later, KSRTC proposed to the state government to increase the fare. The state government finally gave the green signal to this proposal.

Earlier in July last year, the chairman of Karnataka State Transport Corporation had said that the transport corporation had incurred a loss of 295 crores in just three months. He had said that the transport corporation has about 8 thousand buses. All the buses have run 10 to 11 lakh km. There are about 450 to 500 Volvo buses, which have also run about 20 lakh km. Keeping all this in mind, there are expenses on purchasing new buses, maintenance of old buses and many other expenses. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the fare.