Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS) 

Bengaluru, Jan 5: The Karnataka state government has increased bus fares for all four state-run transport corporations by 15%. Despite the hike, fares remain lower compared to neighboring states such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. 

According to officials from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the state boasts the highest number of buses in the country, operating 25,337 buses and serving 1.16 crore passengers daily. 

In comparison, Andhra Pradesh has 14,123 buses catering to 39 lac passengers, Telangana operates 9,384 buses serving 90 lac passengers, and Maharashtra has 18,449 buses carrying 54 lac passengers daily.

Karnataka also leads in the number of air-conditioned buses, with over 2,000, while other states have fewer than 1,160 such buses.

Excluding air-conditioned and luxury buses, fares for city transport, general, express, Rajahamsa, and deluxe services in Karnataka are cheaper than those in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.

In Karnataka, the cost per kilometer is 93 paise, compared to Rs 1.23 in Andhra Pradesh, Rs 1.31 in Telangana, and Rs 1.45 in Maharashtra.

Before the recent fare hike, the cost per kilometer in Karnataka was 81.47 paise.

The current increase adds approximately 12 paise per kilometer.