Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 31: State transport minister R Ashok said, that Karnataka State Road Transport corporation  did not have any option left, other than hiking fares. The corporation is burdened with increasing prices of petroleum products and revision of the salaries of its employees. To save the corporation from slipping into losses, we had to resort to minor raise in fares, he said. If this hike had not been affected, the corporation would have been compelled to face a loss of Rs 180 crore per year, the minister added.

The corporation has to pay revised salaries of employees as per the recommendations of the fifth pay commission, which amounts to around Rs 400 crore, he revealed. The salaries paid to the department drivers is lower as compared to other departments. Unless we raise their pay, the employees might agitate. Petroleum products, iron and spare part rates have jumped by over 23%. The corporation wants to buy 3,000 more buses. I have permitted only about 50% of the hike recommended by the officials, he stated.