Power tariffs hiked in Karnataka; applicable from previous month

coastaldigest.com news network

May 14, 2018

Bengaluru, May 14: Two days after the assembly elections, the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Monday announced tariff hike.

Usually, the hike is announced in the last week of March every year and the hike comes to effect from April 1. But as the poll code of conduct was in place, the commission had to wait till the elections were over. However, today’s revised tariff will be applicable from the start of the new financial year i.e., April 1.

For citizens, there will be no respite as the hike will have retrospective effect. This means the electricity bill that will be generated after May 14 will include the tariff hike, calculated from April.

The five electricity supply companies (Escoms), in their tariff petitions submitted last year, had sought hike ranging from 82 paise to Rs 1.62 per unit for the financial year 2018-19.

Highlights

The KERC has announced a 5.93% increase for Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) against the 14% it had asked for.

The average increase for Bengalureans would be 25 paise as against 82 paise Bescom had sought for.

The overall hike for the five escoms is around 6%, which is between 20 paise and 60 paise.

Concessional reforms have been announced for certain categories of consumers. The tariff for the BMRCL has been reduced by Re. 1 per unit. Earlier, BMRCL was charged around Rs. 6 per unit.

To give a push to electrification of railway tracks, the KERC has reduced tariff by 40 paise per unit across the State.

The KERC has fixed Rs. 4.85 per unit as tariff for charging electric vehicles.

"Those who want to start electric vehicle charging stations need not get license from the Commission. In other cases, whoever sells Electricity has to get license from KERC," Chairman M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda said.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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