KSRTC to charge extra for using B'luru-Mysuru Expressway

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to increase the fares of all its buses plying on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. While one may assume the toll charges on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway will affect only private vehicle commuters, the staterun KSRTC buses, too, have not been spared.

The toll user fee charges will be Rs 15 per passenger for nonstop express buses. It will be Rs 18 for Rajahamsa buses, and Rs 20 per passenger for Airavat/EV+/ MultiAxle/Sleeper services, the KSRTC said in a press release. For buses, the toll charge for a single journey is Rs 460 and for a return journey within a day, it is Rs 690. Monthly passes can be obtained for Rs 15,325.

Anbu Kumar, the Managing Director of KSRTC has said that the hike has been made solely to recover toll charges. While the KSRTC pays tolls constantly as they provide intra-state services since the expressway toll charges are higher, it will be reflected in the ticket prices, he said. “That's roughly a 10 per cent increase in fare for Karnataka Sarige and Rajahamsa!

What will be the increase when the toll for full distance gets implemented? Shouldn't KSRTC be passing on the benefit of higher fuel efficiency by using this world-class highway?,” questioned a Twitter user. “Public money is spent for the expressway. Why should I pay extra for government buses?” asked another. “Sir, shouldn’t public transport and especially buses be exempted from toll?,” said Sajesh Sreejayan. Others pointed out the flaws in the yet-to-be-completed expressway.

“Is this classified as an expressway? It felt like a normal highway, with no proper entry or exits, no space at the median and several slow zones,” said Sandeep. Private bus operators in the city are also following suit and are planning to increase the price of their services. They have also requested the government to complete the laying of the service road if they plan to continue with such a high toll fee.