Siddaramaiah defends bus ticket price hike, as Opposition fumes

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the State government’s decision to increase the price of bus tickets. He also slammed the Opposition BJP for their protests against the same. The CM pointed out that bus ticket prices had been hiked under every State government, adding that the ruling BJP at the Centre had also increased ticket rates for trains. The decision to hike the ticket prices by 15 per cent for all four transport corporations in Karnataka was taken by Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet in a meeting held last week.

The four corporations in question are Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). The CM made the comments during his visit to Davangere district on Sunday. “KSRTC bus (ticket) price increase has been happening for a long time under every (State) government because the salaries of (transport corporation) employees is raised, diesel prices also go up, the new buses that are acquired are also more expensive and there is inflation as well. “So, we (Karnataka) had raised the prices five years ago.

Therefore, all our corporations including KSRTC were facing hardships. Moreover, there had been a demand for this for a long time and so we had to do it,” Siddaramaiah said. “Didn’t the price hike happen under the BJP and (HD) Kumaraswamy? Let them say they didn’t do it. Didn’t the Central government raise the railway (ticket) prices? However, this didn’t convince the Opposition leaders who regarded the decision as one that is burdensome for the consumer. “They have made it free for women and made men pay more. What sin have men committed? Therefore, I request all men of Karnataka to not vote for Congress next time. Moreover, it is unjust to women also.

They get it for free but their children will pay more to hitch a ride to school or commute to work. It is the same for their husbands. So, if women want to protect the interests of the men in their families, then they shouldn’t vote for Congress,” BJP MLA from Vijayapura Basangouda Patil Yatnal mocked. He was referring to the Shakti scheme under which women of Karnataka get free rides on most buses coming under the four corporations. “Luxury” buses are an exception where everyone pays for tickets.