Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 18: The state government, which had reduced burden on consumers by reducing prices of petrol and diesel by two rupees a litre, had decided to hike bus fare simultaneously. But within hours of issuing order to this affect, chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, asked the concerned to withhold this hike, it is gathered.

The government had permitted Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to hike fare by 18 percent across the board, with effect of Monday midnight. But later, the chief minister instructed the managing director of KSRTC to withhold the order and desist from increasing fare. Therefore, bus fare will remain at the same level.

All the four road corporations including KSRTC and Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation of the government had got permission to increase the fare and the officials were calculating the revised fares when the order was withheld at the last minute under CM's instructions.

It is being analyzed that the CM thought that increasing the fare on the day of reducing prices of petroleum products might give rise to public outrage and opposition BJP might get an issue to criticize the government. At the same time, political uncertainty in the state had given rise to tension among leaders. Therefore, Kumaraswamy is learnt to have held discussion with transport minister, D C Thammanna, and convinced him of the need to stop fare hike for now.