Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 23: With a series of holidays around the weekend and Republic Day on Monday, private bus operators have once again shocked passengers by sharply increasing ticket fares. As people plan to travel to their hometowns, visit relatives, or go on short trips during the holidays, private buses have doubled ticket prices, leaving travellers distressed.

Private bus owners have capitalised on the holiday rush by hiking fares overnight. Journeys that were easily affordable on regular days have now become expensive, causing severe inconvenience to the general public.

The steep increase in private bus ticket prices has particularly affected families working in Bengaluru. With the Republic Day holiday coinciding with the weekend, many who planned to travel to their native places are now facing difficulties. Sleeper bus fares that usually ranged between Rs 500 and Rs 800, or up to Rs 1,000 on normal days, have now crossed Rs 2,000. As a result, despite having holidays, many are hesitant to travel due to the high cost involved.

The fare hike across key routes has been significant. On the Bengaluru–Mangaluru route, the usual fare of Rs 500 to Rs 800 has increased to between Rs 1,400 and Rs 2,000. For Bengaluru–Udupi, fares that earlier ranged from Rs 600 to Rs 750 have now gone up to Rs 1,650 to Rs 1,699. On the Bengaluru–Chikkamagaluru route, the normal fare of Rs 550 to Rs 600 has risen sharply to between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,600. Travelling from Bengaluru to Hassan now costs between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200, compared to the earlier Rs 650 to Rs 850. The Bengaluru–Belagavi route has seen one of the steepest hikes, with fares jumping from Rs 1,200–1,300 to as high as Rs 2,500–3,000.

Travellers have termed the fare hike unscientific and unjustified. Private bus operators are accused of increasing fares immediately whenever holidays arrive. Sleeper bus tickets that were priced up to Rs 800 just a few days ago have now crossed Rs 1,400, placing a heavy burden on families. Those travelling with children and elderly members are particularly affected. While many are forced to opt for KSRTC buses, several passengers depend on private buses due to the better comfort and facilities they offer.

The transport department has come under criticism for its failure to regulate the fare hike. Although warnings of licence cancellation were issued in the past, no concrete action has been taken. As a result, private bus operators continue to increase fares without any control. Such practices have become common during festival seasons, including Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi and Sankranti, and the same trend has continued during the current holiday period as well.