Fare hike needed for financial stability of transport undertakings in Karnataka: Minister

Kempegowda Bus Stand (KBS) in Bengaluru. According to the Minister, ‘Over 1.16 crore passengers travel by STUs every day in Karnataka. Of them, 65 lakh are women. We have recently purchased 5,300 new buses and are in the process of hiring over 8,000 new staff as the finance department has cleared the proposal.’ 
| Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K

Labour Minister Santosh Lad defended the hike in bus fares in Karnataka, saying it was justified and scientific.

“This was necessary to provide financial stability for State transport undertakings, and to ensure their development, so that they provide optimal services to the people,” he said in Hubballi on January 5.

He told reporters that there were several reasons behind the hike.

“Over 1.16 crore passengers travel by STUs every day in Karnataka. Of them, 65 lakh are women. We have recently purchased 5,300 new buses and are in the process of hiring over 8,000 new staff as the finance department has cleared the proposal,” he said.

He criticised the BJP for opposing the hike, saying their opposition was unscientific and uncalled for. “Let them study the financial condition of the STUs and then come to an open discussion with us about whether the hike was needed. We are willing to answer every query,” he said.

He said the rising fuel prices had a cascading effect on prices of all commodities. “When the price of diesel and petrol increases, all things, including public and private transport, become expensive. When the cost of transportation increases, it affects the common man. Unfortunately, the Union Government is not doing anything to address this issue,” he said.

He said that the BJP was blind to the Union Government keeping fuel prices high despite fall in crude oil prices in the international market. “If the Centre really cares, then diesel can be sold for as low as ₹30 per litre. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh used to buy a barrel of crude oil for ₹103, but still made them available to the common people at a low prices. He used to give a subsidy of ₹90,000 crore. But the BJP-led NDA government is not doing any such thing as it does not care about the common man. The Congress is giving several things free and at subsidised costs. What is the BJP giving to the poor — just misery,” he said.