Bus commuters across Bangalore have been reeling under the bus fare hike since June when the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) increased fares by 16 per cent. The Bangalore Bus Prayaanikara Vedike (BBPV) met BMTC officials on August 17 to urge them to ask the government to roll back fares. Following a lukewarm response from the BMTC , the BBPV is planning to approach the Chief Minister on the issue.
“This government, that pumps so much money into the metro project, only partially supports bus passes provided to students,” said Vinay Sreenivasa of the BBPV. “The BMTC officials said that unlike other States where the government provides subsidy to make bus fares cheaper, Karnataka does not provide subsidy,” said Savita M. of the Bangalore Slum Janara Sanghatane, a member-organisation of BBPV. “We will write to the Chief Minister. But we will launch a protest if we do not get any positive response from him in two weeks,” she said, adding that the hike in bus fares would hit the lower economic group the hardest.
