Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations (RTCs) are now demanding an increase in the rates of bus fares consequent to losses they experienced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak coupled with high diesel cost. Since April 2020, diesel prices have increased a good 50%. Adding on to that, RTCs have had to experience losses worth Rs 2500 crore in the fiscal year of 2020-21. Thus, they have jointly sent a petition to the state government hoping the latter gives them permission to increase the bus fares that might prove to help the ever-increasing losses in one way or another. They would like to increase the prices by at least 15-20%. So many changes have arrived since the pandemic first broke out in the state that now, these busses are able to serve just 50% passengers when compared with before.
A state Transport Department official then threw some light on the same by explaining that, things may seem normal as of now because travel restrictions on individuals have been cut down and many offices and institutions have opened their doors to their employees and students. However, this does not guarantee that business for these busses will pick up from where it left off in the pre-coronavirus times. Therefore, the bus fares that were last increased around 3 years ago will still continue to rise. Business being bad will also confirm that RTCs find it difficult to pay their employees the remuneration they deserve which had eventually led to the strike in the month of January across the state.
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