'Hike in bus fare is not fair'

Mangalore, September 14: The September 15 hike in bus fares will not be the last if one reads the intent of Canara Bus Operators Association (CBOA) members.

''The hike of 4 paise per km is measly when you compare the cost of operation per km," said CBOA President Rajavarma Ballal.

CBOA will approach the high court soon to direct state government to expedite the process of issuing a new government notification regarding the fare hike in a scientific manner. ''We want the government to issue a notification which gives a level playing field for both state run and private bus operators. When the bus fares for KSRTC are hiked, it should allow us also to hike bus fares," said Ballal.

''The KSRTC said they could not even wait for a day after the diesel hike, lest they would run into losses. It is two months since we have submitted the memorandum to the transport minister. Who will make good of our losses?" he questioned.

Thoroughly unhappy with RTA fare rates, Ballal said the existing notification (with the RTA) does not allow the hike more than a certain percentage. The CBOA demanded 15% across the board hike from stage I to the last stage.

''We have demanded the government to give us rates which they have given to the KSRTC, though the state-owned Bus Corporation is subsidized heavily by the government, admitting their overheads were higher.

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‘Nothing for Karnataka’: DKS slams Union Budget, flags Bengaluru neglect

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.

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