Published Jul 15, 2024 | 11:18 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 15, 2024 | 4:48 PM
Raju Kage. (Screengrab)
The North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation is incurring losses due to the Shakti scheme, Chairman and Congress MLA Raju Kage told reporters in Belagavi on Monday, 15 July.
The Shakti scheme is one of the flagship programmes of the Congress government, which gives free transport to all women in the state on state-run buses.
He added, “North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation is incurring losses. The Shakti scheme is one of the five guarantees we have given. Despite the losses due to the Shakti scheme, the government is still managing it.”
Amid the speculation of KSRTC ticket price rise, the ruling Congress clarified that, there has been no such proposal.
Quoting the Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Congress wrote on X, “The Transport Minister said that there is no proposal before the government to increase the fares of KSRTC buses.”
KSRTC ಬಸ್ಸುಗಳ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ದರ ಏರಿಕೆಯ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಮುಂದೆ ಇಲ್ಲ ಎನ್ನುವುದನ್ನು ಸಾರಿಗೆ ಸಚಿವ @RLR_BTM ಅವರು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ,@BJP4Karnataka ನಾಯಕರು ಕಪೋಲಕಲ್ಪಿತ ವರದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಸುಳ್ಳು ಹಬ್ಬಿಸುವುದನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು, ಕಳೆದ 10 ವರ್ಷದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಹನ ಬಿಡಿಭಾಗಗಳ ಬೆಲೆ ಏರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿದ್ದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ, ಇಂಧನ ತೈಲಗಳ ಬೆಲೆ…
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) July 15, 2024
The post further quoted the minister criticising the Union government for rise in the prices of spare parts, and fuel hike.
The chairman further added, “I assumed office in February. We have purchased 375 buses in the state, and are planning to purchase 300 more buses.”
#Karnataka: The North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) is incurring losses due to the Shakti scheme, says its Chairman and MLA Raju Kage in Belagavi.
“North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation is incurring losses. The Shakti scheme is one of the… pic.twitter.com/1IGiLjvBKa
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) July 15, 2024
Elaborating on the issues, Raju said, “We are aware of the problems caused by the Shakti Yojana and have brought them to the government’s attention Schoolchildren in villages are facing issues commuting to schools, there is a bus shortage for inter-village travel compared to city travel, and we are working to provide buses to villages.”
Adding that there is a thought of “increasing ticket prices,” the NWKRTC chairman said, “We are planning to bring the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation into profit in the coming days.”
He further noted, “According to the law, buses that have covered 10 lakh kilometres must be retired, for some reason, we have been operating buses for 14 lakh kilometres. We are aware that old buses are breaking down frequently.”
Meanwhile, the state Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, took to X to slam the government for expected price rise in tickets.
The same jokers of @INCKarnataka who were blowing trumpets and beating drums that the Shakti guarantee scheme has increased KSRTC’s revenue are now pitching for bus fare hike citing losses.
Mr. @RahulGandhi avare, a prosperous and flourishing state like Karnataka is pushed to… pic.twitter.com/qcKc3HyD8O
— R. Ashoka (ಮೋದಿ ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬ) (@RAshokaBJP) July 15, 2024
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya citing news reports, criticised the government for price rises.
Congress’ Khatakhat Model of Governance in Karnataka has led to hikes in
– Water Bills
– Electricity Bills
– Property Tax
– Stamp Paper Duty
– Sales Tax on Petrol & Diesel
– Excise Duty
– Milk price
– Road Tax on new vehicles
– And now the hike in Bus fares!To top it, you… pic.twitter.com/5FZcff3Ebr
— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) July 15, 2024
In the post clarifying that there is no price hike of bus tickets, Congress hit out at the BJP for spreading “fake news.”
The transport minister urged BJP leaders to stop spreading false reports and instead address the rise in the prices of vehicle spare parts over the past 10 years, the increase in fuel prices, and the hike in railway fares.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Nolan Patrick Pinto)
