BMTC hikes AC bus fares, cost of passes

The impact of diesel price hike on the City’s public transport service is starting to show, with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) hiking the fare of all air-conditioned buses on Saturday night. Fares and cost of daily passes for the Vayu Vajra, Vajra and Suvarna (air conditioned) buses consequently went up.

The Centre on Friday announced a monthly increase in diesel price by 40-50 paise.
With the revision in effect, the rate of Vajra tickets has gone up by Rs 5 after 4 km and Rs 10 after 18 km. For the Survarna AC buses, the fare was hiked by Rs 3 after 4 km and Rs 4 after 12 km. The fare of the Vayu Vajra buses, which ply to Bangalore International Airport, was increased by a minimum of Rs 20. The gold daily pass for the Vayu Vajra buses and the daily pass for the Survarna AC buses will cost Rs 10 more.  

According to BMTC Managing Director Anjum Parwez, the price of monthly passes of all AC buses will also go up by 10 per cent, with effect from February 3. “Ever since the Centre increased the price of high speed diesel by Rs 12.07 per litre on January 18, there has been a cascading effect on the prices of tyres, tubes, lubricants, assembling, iron and spare parts.

Besides, there was an increase of 4.5 per cent in dearness allowance of all BMTC employees from January 2012, which further burdened the corporation. To reduce the burden, we have increased the fare of AC buses in the City,” he said. The fare of AC buses will not be hiked in the next six months.

The conductors or conductor-drivers have been directed to issue a Rs 10 ticket along with the daily pass till the new set of printed passes are available.