Deepavali: Private bus ticket prices soar

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Just like a rocket cracker flying in the sky on a Deepavali night, tickets for private buses from Bengaluru to other cities have soared high.

This Deepavali, which includes yet another 'long weekend' will see a lot of commuting as people look forward to going back to their hometowns.

Despite repeated warnings from the State Transport Department, Private bus operators have persisted and ticket prices are as high as Rs. 4000 for a trip outside the state.

Rahman, a second year student from a private university, has been charged around Rs.2000 for a trip to Chennai from Madiwala, here on Friday.

"The ticket prices from last year have increased from Rs. 1015 to Rs.2000!," he added.

Gowri, a fresher from the same university, has cited that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is what makes the ticket price exorbitant. For her trip to Ernakulam on Friday evening, she had to pay Rs.2100.

"With a base price of Rs.1800, inclusion of had made the ticket price look expensive. Tickets prices from Bengaluru to other cities also wear an exorbitant look, as travellers are demanded prices as high as 3500. For a trip to Mysuru on Friday, A ticket listed on a Ticket Aggregator is as high as Rs.2200. Speaking to a ticket agent in Madiwala, they said that average prices for a trip to Mysuru will start at Rs.1000 and can go as high as Rs.2000. This comes in light after the Transport Department's directive to launch necessary actions, after complaints regarding unfair ticket pricing emerged.