Date:31/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/31/stories/2008083154450500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

You can still take a train to Mysore for just Rs. 22

Anil Kumar Sastry

Fare to Mysore from Bangalore is Rs. 79
in ‘Sarige’ service
‘Hike will generate Rs. 120 crore more this financial year’

BANGALORE: Train services have become further cheaper than bus services after the Thursday’s fare hike by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). However, the only hiccup is the flexibility that KSRTC services offer and the limited reach of the railway network.

Still one can travel to Mysore from Bangalore for just Rs. 22 in a passenger train instead of paying Rs. 79 for Karnataka Sarige (express) service of the KSRTC or Rs. 44 to travel in an express train. Similarly, the fare to Davangere in Jan Shatabdi Express, which leaves Bangalore at 6 a.m., is Rs. 117 as against Rs. 151 charged in an express service and Rs. 230 in Rajahamsa service of the KSRTC. The Jan Shatabdi fare to Hubli is just Rs. 147 as against Rs. 233 charged in express service and Rs. 329 in Rajahamsa service. Even the railway sleeper fare (Rs. 206) is cheaper than that of Rajahamsa service to Hubli.

Journey between Bangalore and Shimoga in the sleeper class of an express train will cost Rs. 146 as against Rs. 241 of Rajahamsa service.Gaurav Gupta, Managing Director of the KSRTC, told The Hindu that the hike in KSRTC bus fares was essential to offer a sustainable public transport system.

The fare hike would generate additional revenue of Rs. 120 crore during the remaining period of the financial year. It would just be sufficient to offset the increased cost of inputs (Rs. 45 crore), dearness allowance to employees (Rs. 54 crore) and wage revision (Rs. 19 crore), he said.

He said that across the country, State-owned transport undertakings were making losses as they had become unviable owing to their inability to revise the fares. In some States, governments had been supporting the transport undertakings. However, in Karnataka, the corporations had to sustain on their own. Though it was desirable that various taxes on purchase of buses and spare parts were waived, it was for the Government to take a decision in this regard, he added.