Novel protest against hike in BMTC bus fare

Condemning 15 per cent hike in the BMTC bus fare, members of Bangalore Bus Prayanikara Vedike (Bangalore bus travellers' forum) on Tuesday staged a novel protest.

The members of the forum, led by its convener Vinay Srinivas, registered their protest at TTMCs across the City by distributing pamphlets to passengers. The group, 40 in number, raised slogans against the government and BMTC.

The protest rally started at Shantinagar TTMC, where the protesters boarded the BMTC bus and drew the attention of co-passengers on steep hike in fare by sloganeering.They displayed banners, posters and placards during their halts at Jayanagar, Banashankari, Padarayanapura TTMCs.

Price hike

In the last three years the diesel prices increased by only 30 per cent whereas in the corresponding period, the BMTC hiked the fares by 70 to 80 per cent. The hike has dealt a major blow to the people from lower strata of the society. It will impact every walk of life and would lead to inflation making the life of common man miserable, said Vinay Srinivasa, the convener of the vedike.

The members of the forum have threatened to intensify their protests, if the BMTC will not roll back on its decision to increase the fare.