Published Nov 05, 2026 | 5:18 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 05, 2026 | 5:19 PM
The hike in pass fares follows an increase in BMTC ticket fares of 32 percent to 35 percent.
Synopsis: Karnataka raised BMTC bus pass rates by 20 percent to 25 percent, with the non-AC daily pass increasing from ₹80 to ₹100 and the non-AC monthly pass from ₹1,200 to ₹1,500. The revision follows a 32 percent to 35 percent increase in BMTC ticket fares and a 23 percent hike across the KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC, with the government citing rising diesel prices and mounting losses. The BJP staged a protest at Bengaluru’s Majestic bus stand, accusing the Congress government of raising prices and taxes to fund its guarantee schemes.
The Karnataka government on Thursday, 5 November, raised Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus pass rates by 20 percent to 25 percent, a day after revised fares were announced across the State’s four transport corporations. The non-AC daily pass now costs ₹100, up from ₹80, while the Volvo daily pass has increased from ₹140 to ₹175.
The weekly pass has gone up by 20 percent, from ₹350 to ₹420. The non-AC monthly pass now costs ₹1,500, against the earlier ₹1,200, while the Diamond Volvo monthly pass has increased from ₹2,000 to ₹2,500.
The hike in pass fares follows an increase in BMTC ticket fares of 32 percent to 35 percent. The minimum fare has risen from ₹6 to ₹10 and the maximum from ₹35 to ₹45. On non-airport Volvo Vajra services, the minimum fare has increased from ₹15 to ₹20, while the maximum fare for a 60-km journey has gone up from ₹75 to ₹90.
The BJP staged a symbolic protest at Majestic in Bengaluru on Thursday against the fare increase. Party leaders carrying begging bowls accused the Congress government of repeatedly raising prices and taxes to fund its guarantee schemes.
Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said the government was struggling financially even as public transport services continued to deteriorate, with buses facing shortages of basic spare parts. He also pointed to recent increases in milk and dairy product prices, alleging that households were being forced to bear the cost of the government’s financial decisions.
The BJP said it would extend the protests across the State.
ಬೆಲೆ ಏರಿಕೆ ಮೂಲಕ ಜನರ ಜೀವ ಹಿಂಡುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್‌ ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಧಿಕ್ಕಾರ… ಧಿಕ್ಕಾರ…
ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್‌ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಬೆಲೆ ಏರಿಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಇಂದು ಪ್ರತಿಪಕ್ಷ ನಾಯಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಆರ್. ಅಶೋಕ್‌ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಧಾನ ಪರಿಷತ್‌ ವಿಪಕ್ಷ ನಾಯಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಛಲವಾದಿ ನಾರಾಯಣಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಅವರ ನೇತೃತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಶಾಸಕರು ಮತ್ತು ಪದಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಮೆಜೆಸ್ಟಿಕ್ ಬಸ್ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದ ಬಳಿ ಬೃಹತ್‌ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ನಡೆಸಿದರು.
ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಪಕ್ಷ ಉಪನಾಯಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಅರವಿಂದ ಬೆಲ್ಲದ್‌, ವಿಧಾನ ಪರಿಷತ್‌ ವಿಪಕ್ಷ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಸಚೇತಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಎನ್. ರವಿಕುಮಾರ್‌, ಸಂಸದರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಪಿ. ಸಿ. ಮೋಹನ್‌, ಶಾಸಕರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಎಸ್. ರಘು, ಶ್ರೀ ರವಿ ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ, ವಿಧಾನ ಪರಿಷತ್‌ ಸದಸ್ಯರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಪಿ.ಹೆಚ್.ಪೂಜಾರ್‌, ಶ್ರೀ ಹಣಮಂತ ನಿರಾಣಿ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಉತ್ತರ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಎಸ್. ಹರೀಶ್‌, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಸಪ್ತಗಿರಿ ಗೌಡ, ಪದಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು, ಪ್ರಮುಖರು ಮತ್ತು ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.
#CongressFailsKarnataka
#CongressLootsKarnataka— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) November 5, 2026
Also Read: Karnataka households feel the squeeze as milk and bus fare hikes add to rising living costs
The revised fares came into effect on 5 November across the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) and BMTC.
Fares in KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC have increased by 23 percent, while BMTC fares have gone up by 32 percent to 35 percent, Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh announced on Wednesday.
KSRTC Express fares have increased by ₹19, from ₹81 to ₹100.
Suresh had cited rising diesel prices and mounting losses in the four transport corporations to justify the revision.
“We are not taking this decision arbitrarily. The Central Government has increased diesel prices five times in the last nine months. Our four transport corporations have already incurred losses of approximately ₹9,000 crore, with annual losses amounting to around ₹2,000 crore,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“We have to pay salaries and purchase diesel, and these expenses are beyond our control. In particular, we cannot afford to keep purchasing diesel at such high prices. Otherwise, it would become increasingly difficult for us to manage our operations.”
The bus fare increase comes days after the State Cabinet approved an ₹8-per-litre increase in the price of Nandini milk supplied by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). The revised milk price came into effect on 1 November.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Varsha Gowda)
