Bengaluru BMTC Bus Pass Prices Hiked: New Rates Starting January 13, Thursday

Starting Thursday, commuters in Bengaluru will need to dig deeper into their pockets as bus pass prices have seen an upward revision. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has adjusted the prices for its various passes, including daily, weekly, and monthly options.

This price adjustment is a response to the recent fare hike across Karnataka's state-run bus services, initiated on January 5.

Specifically, the cost for a daily pass has jumped from ₹70 to ₹80, and the monthly pass rate has shifted from ₹1,050 to ₹1,200. This move aims to address the financial challenges faced by the transport corporation, exacerbated by rising diesel prices and operational costs.

In detail, the BMTC's adjustment in pass rates encompasses a range of commuter options. For regular daily commuters, the price for a day pass now stands at ₹80, up from the previous ₹70. Weekly pass holders will see their costs rise from ₹300 to ₹350, while those relying on the monthly pass will need to pay ₹1,200 instead of ₹1,050.

The hike is not just limited to regular buses but extends to air-conditioned services as well. Commuters using AC buses on the NICE Road will now be charged ₹2,350 for a monthly pass, experiencing a rise from the earlier ₹2,200. Moreover, the daily pass rate for Vajra AC buses has increased from ₹120 to ₹140, with the monthly pass for the same service climbing from ₹1,800 to ₹2,000. Additionally, the Vayu Vajra services, which offer connectivity to Kempegowda International Airport, will now see a monthly pass rate of ₹4,000, up from ₹3,755. Students, who often rely on these AC bus services for their daily commute, are also affected, facing an increase from ₹1,200 to ₹1,400 for their monthly pass.

The decision to adjust bus pass prices comes in the wake of a statewide fare hike affecting all major state-run transport services, including the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC), in addition to BMTC. This increase has been attributed to the significant rise in diesel prices, which have surged sharply since BMTC's last fare revision in 2015.

At that time, diesel cost ₹60.90 per litre. Currently, the corporation's daily expenditure on diesel has escalated to ₹13.21 crore from ₹9.16 crore, while daily staff-related expenses have risen from ₹12.95 crore to ₹18.36 crore. This financial pressure has necessitated a revision in fares to ensure the sustainability of transport services.