Newskarnataka – Bantwal

Bantwal: Recently, the monthly bus pass fare has been hiked to Rs 1,230 as against the current fare of Rs 1,010 from Kalladka to Mangalore for buses moving through Brahmakootlu toll gate.

The pass for Kalladka-Mangalore KSRTC service earlier was charged at Rs 1,010, out of which Rs 40 was collected as toll fee; however now, the fare has been increased to Rs 1,230, out of which Rs 160 is the toll charge.   The Toll fee hike has apparently been passed on to the consumer triggering an agitation among  commuters.

The KSRTC claims that the hike is to bear the loss incurred by the escalated toll fee. The KSRTC held talks regarding the hike last Monday and decided to bring it into effect from Friday May 9. Shocked by the decision, commuters are now mulling a protest to demand slash in the rates.

The new toll fee will be imposed after May 16, after the election results. It is learnt that KSRTC has to pay as much as Rs 90 on a daily basis for buses that passed through the toll plaza.

If the renewed rates come into effect, the KSRTC has to be pay 115, which necessitated the hike in bus pass rates. Since KSRTC does not want to hike the ticket fares on this route, they are hiking the charges on months pass, it is said.