Karnataka Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, announced a fare revision across all four state-run road transport corporations — the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) — with the revised fares taking effect from midnight. The increase, ranging from ₹9 to ₹68 depending on distance and service category, comes just ahead of the Diwali festival, when inter-city and intra-city passenger movement is expected to surge across the state.

Fare Changes by Service Category

For BMTC city buses, the minimum fare rises from ₹6 to ₹10, while the maximum fare increases from ₹35 to ₹45. Passengers travelling up to two kilometres will pay ₹4 more; those covering two to four kilometres face an additional ₹6; and the ceiling increase for longer distances is capped at ₹12.

On Vayu Vajra airport services, fares go up by ₹5 to ₹15 based on distance — ₹5 more for journeys up to six kilometres, ₹10 for the six-to-18 kilometre band, and a maximum of ₹15 beyond that. For air-conditioned buses, the minimum fare increase is fixed between ₹10 and ₹15, with the maximum fare for a 60-kilometre journey moving from ₹75 to ₹90. The fare for luxury buses between Majestic and Kempegowda International Airport has been revised from ₹405 to ₹425.

For general transport services — which carry the bulk of daily commuters — the increase ranges from ₹9 to ₹68 for longer routes. Vega Doota services see a maximum increase of ₹18 for 10 stages. The KSRTC network operates around 150 fare stages in total.

Financial Crisis Driving the Revision

Minister Suresh cited mounting financial liabilities as the primary driver. The combined outstanding liabilities of the four corporations stand at ₹7,719 crore, including loans of ₹2,192 crore, while the state government's total liabilities towards the four corporations amount to ₹9,912 crore. Together, the corporations spend approximately ₹16,000 crore annually but generate only around ₹14,000 crore in revenue — an annual deficit of roughly ₹2,000 crore that has forced them to borrow to meet day-to-day expenditure.

The four corporations collectively employ around 1,03,600 staff members. The government has recently increased employee salaries, while costs for tyres, fuel, and maintenance have also risen sharply. Suresh noted that fares had been revised only once in the past decade, even as fuel prices escalated multiple times. Around 80 per cent of revenue generated by the transport corporations currently goes toward diesel costs and salaries alone.

Shakti Scheme and Free Travel Burden

A significant pressure point on the corporations' finances is the state government's flagship Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel to women in all state-run transport buses. Suresh stated that the government is required to provide approximately ₹5,000 crore annually to fund the scheme — a commitment that has deepened the structural deficit even as ridership numbers have grown.

Government's Defence and Political Context

Suresh said that both he and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had disagreed with the higher rates initially recommended by an expert committee, and that the government had taken four days to arrive at a more moderate revision aimed at minimising passenger burden. He drew comparisons with neighbouring states, noting that bus fares have been revised in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Telangana as well. He maintained that even after the hike, none of the four RTCs would turn profitable — the increase would only reduce collective losses by about 25 per cent.

Notably, when questioned about the airport fare hike, the Minister remarked that people travelling to the airport were 'generally affluent' — a comment that drew attention amid broader public debate over the timing of the revision. The fare hike is the first across all four corporations in a decade, and comes at a politically sensitive moment ahead of a major festival.

What Commuters and Corporations Face Next

The revised fares apply to ordinary, express, luxury, and air-conditioned services across all four corporations from midnight on 4 November 2026. With passenger volumes set to spike during Diwali, the revised fares will immediately affect millions of commuters — particularly those dependent on the KSRTC and BMTC for intercity and intra-city travel. The government's appeal for public cooperation signals it expects pushback, and the coming days will test whether the revised rates hold politically.