Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) rescinded its decision to hike the rates of the student bus passes. This comes after severe protests and criticisms against the decision.
A BMTC official told The Hindu that they received a communication from the Transport department on Saturday, informing that the order allowing the Corporation to revise the bus pass fares was cancelled. He also stated that the bus pass rates will remain the same as last year.
It can be recalled that the BMTC had recently announced a Rs 100 to Rs 200 hike in bus passes for various students depending on which level they belonged.
Traditionally, every year, the bus passes receive concessions as the state government bore half of the cost, the transport corporation bore 25% and the students bore the balance 25%.
The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) and other student organisation had been staging protests against the proposed hike in the bus pass rates since Friday, across the city and the state.
A member of one of the organisations, during a protest rally, said that a hike in the bus fare has a direct bearing on a large section of students who want to pursue higher education. He added that the governments must realise that the students are not a source to mint money.
