BMTC to run buses with seated passengers, no hike in fares

Bengaluru: As the Karnataka government is figuring out unlock plans, it may permit BMTC to run only with seated passengers. Passenger will not be allowed to stand so as to prevent overcrowding and to ensure social distancing.

However, the corporation has been hit hard due to the lockdown and the rising fuel prices. For three years, BMTC has been demanding a fare hike but the government has not agreed to it fearing a rage from the public. Fares of other state-run bus corporations like KSRTC was increased by 12% in February 2020, but BMTC was spared.

BMTC officials stated that fares have not been increased since 2014 despite an increase in operational costs. On Tuesday, deputy CM and transport minister Laxman Savadi said that there were no plans to increase the fares. He said, “People are in financial trouble due to Covid and lockdown. Those travelling in buses are mostly poor people. We’ll consider fare increase only after normalcy returns.” The government has not announced any financial package for BMTC.

A senior BMTC official said, “The transport sector is the worst affected due to the lockdown. The government released Rs 325 crore to pay salaries for April and May to all four corporations. It must provide funds to pay salaries. While the cost per kilometre of operating a bus has increased from Rs 60 to Rs 65 after hike in diesel prices, earnings per kilometre have reduced from Rs 45 to Rs 35 after Covid-19. If the fare is not hiked, the government has to bear losses incurred. Otherwise, it should provide Viability Gap Funding.’

BMTC officials are of the view that fare revision is inevitable as the number of riders after the lockdown is unlikely to return to normal levels. BMTC’s daily ridership was 36 lakh pre-Covid and decreased to around 25 lakh a day before April 27, 2021, when the lockdown was imposed.

BMTC officials said a majority of the Volvo AC buses are lying idle at the depots for over a year due to lack of demand. An official said, “The demand for AC buses will be less due to work from home by techies and less air traffic movement.”