Increase in fares of ordinary services imminent?
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) on Sunday increased the fares of its premium Vajra (Volvo), AC Suvarna and Vayu Vajra (Bangalore International Airport Special) services ranging between Rs. 3 and Rs. 10.
In what appears to be a prelude to a general fare hike, BMTC in a release citing the recent diesel price hike and increase in the cost of other inputs, said that fares of its premium services are being increased as a first step.
It said that besides diesel, the prices of other inputs, including lubricants, tyres, tubes and spare parts, too have gone up.
Asked whether fares of ordinary bus services too would be increased, BMTC Managing Director Anjum Parvez told The Hindu that it was not immediately likely. He, however, did not rule it out completely.
Though BMTC is incurring operational losses on both ordinary and Vajra services, Mr. Parvez said that fares of premium services are being increased as an immediate step to prevent further loss.
He said that because of increased cost inputs, the corporation has decided to add only 950 new buses this financial year, including 110 Vajra coaches, against the original plan of 1,200 buses.
While the fares of AC Suvarna (Marcopolo) have been increased ranging between Rs. 3 and Rs. 6, that of Vajra and Carona have been increased by Rs. 5 and Rs. 10. However, fares in the first two stages (4 km) of Vajra and the first stage of Suvarna remain unchanged.
The minimum fare continues to be Rs. 10 on both these services and the maximum would be Rs. 100 on Vajra and Rs. 50 on Suvarna, the release said.
Vayu Vajra
Fares on Vayu Vajra too have been increased ranging between Rs. 15 and Rs. 30. Now, the minimum fare on Vayu Vajra is Rs. 150 (up from Rs. 130, from Hebbal, Kogilu and Yelahanka to BIAL) and the maximum is Rs. 230 (up from Rs. 200, from Kadugodi, Hope Farm and Whitefield to BIAL).
Rates of day passes on these premium services too have been increased by Rs. 10.
While Vajra Gold Pass would now cost Rs. 110, AC Suvarna day pass would cost Rs. 70.
The corporation has advised conductors to issue Rs. 10 ticket till new passes with revised rates are printed.
Thats a really huge increase in the price!!! Don't knows where the country is going!!!
BMTC is slowly killing the Volvo service by hiking fares indiscriminately. In 2010, we were paying 20 rupess to travel from Silk board to Bellandur. Today you pay 40. Is there any justification for a 100% hike in fare in 2 years.
Right now, it is cheaper to take Auto or travel by car rather for volvo. If the aim is to reduce traffic and encourage public transportation, BMTC is doing a terrible job at it.
If BMTC continues to hike the fares like this, slowly you will find people shun Volvo buses because they are not cost effective and BMTC will incur more losses. Does the BMTC management care?
This should be the outcome of the central government's policy to add-on diesel price for the bulk consumers of Diesel. It would be useful if BMTC plies regular buses to ITPL. Not all who work in ITPL are cash-rich. Also, when you get down from the Airport, we are forced to board expensive buses. The bus fares can be displayed in the digital signboards, so that we can make a judgement before boarding.
It is Shame on BMTC that it is incurring losses. First it has to fix revenue leakage rather than increasing bus fare.
I have seen Private cabs are paying money to Hennur Police and Nagawara police , on monthly basis,to pick up the passenger from bus stop and not to trouble them later.
Shameless idiots are ruling us. Please save us.
I am travelling from silkboard to ITPl daily and is forced to travel on Volvo since the ordinary BMTC bus is very very rare. Why the Govt is not plying more ordinary buses in these areas and increasing the fare like this
Looks like there is nobody to ask BMTC, they can do whatever they want to. How helpless the people are! Where is the Govt in all this?
May BMTC should not lead to unsafe travel in bangalore. By incresing price again they force the people to travel in private cabs and buses. As a citizen of india i dont want an another incident like delhi case in bangalore.May be govt should take initiative in bringing the price down.
Yesterday i paid 35 to travel and today i was forced to pay 45.If BMTC tries to make profit by increasing price then it will indirectly impact the society.
That's a huge increase ! God save this country !
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