Bengaluru: The Karnataka Transport Minister D C Thammana has made it public on Tuesday, September 4 that the Department of Transport will not be issuing free bus passes to the students this year citing that the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) was reeling under the losses.
Free bus passes for students was promised by former chief minister Siddaramaiah in his last budget in February. Prior to this, free bus passes were available only for SC/ST students.
After coming to power, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has maintained all the welfare schemes put in place by Siddaramaiah except that there is no mention of the bus pass scheme.
Various student organisations have met with the CM regarding this issue; strikes too were held but the government is adamant on excluding this scheme.
Transport Minister Thammana also hinted at a rise in bus fares due to increase in fuel prices.
To recover the losses due to rise in fuel prices, the officials in the (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and BMTC have asked the government to increase bus fares by 18-20% and also to add 2% cess on property tax across Bengaluru.
