India: KSRTC bus fares rise approximately 23%, BMTC fares increase 33–35%
The fare revision covers Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). The state government attributed the changes to operating losses and higher running costs at the transport companies.
Defending the decision, DK Shivakumar cited the operators’ financial difficulties and the expense associated with Shakti, the scheme offering women free bus journeys. He said fares on some routes had increased by ₹2–₹3. He also said the state could consider lowering fares if the central government reduced petrol and diesel prices.
Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh had previously said the boards overseeing the four operators sought increases of as much as 90% to address their financial problems. Opposition parties criticised the approved revision and called for a protest across Karnataka. Responding to that criticism, Shivakumar pointed to more expensive agricultural inputs, including fertilisers, pesticides and fuel. He also acknowledged farmers’ difficulties in areas of the state experiencing drought-like conditions.
The milk and curd increases affect products used regularly by households. Festival celebrations also bring additional demand for dairy foods, including ghee, paneer and butter, alongside milk and curd. The source identifies lower- and middle-income households as particularly exposed to changes in purchasing decisions when dairy retail prices rise.
Cooperatives have a substantial role in Karnataka’s organised dairy business, purchasing milk from farmers, processing it and supplying retail outlets. Dairy pricing involves producers, cooperative unions, processors, distributors and retailers. Procurement payments, packaging, processing and delivery expenses all contribute to the prices paid by consumers. Cooperatives and processors face the task of managing their operating expenses while maintaining affordable products and sustainable payments to milk suppliers.
Transport is involved both in carrying unprocessed milk from collection points to processing plants and in delivering finished dairy goods to shops. Milk’s perishability requires prompt movement and suitable temperature management. The article identifies fuel, vehicle upkeep and logistics as costs that can put pressure on processors and cooperative unions. It also links farmers’ returns from retail price changes to the procurement policies, processing expenses, distribution margins and pricing arrangements used by dairy organisations.
