Bengaluru’s Transport Department has launched a special five-day enforcement drive against private bus operators charging exorbitant fares, overloading passengers and carrying goods in violation of permit
rules, as the Ganesh Chaturthi long weekend sends fares soaring by up to three times the usual rate.
Who’s Being Targeted, And For How Long?
According to a Deccan Herald report, transport and road safety commissioner R Selvamani has directed all joint commissioners of transport to act against violators from September 11 to 15, covering contract carriage buses, All India Tourist Omnibuses (AITOBs), maxicabs, omnibuses and public service vehicles. Officials have been told to check vehicles, confiscate those breaching permit conditions, collect penalties, and file daily action reports by 10 am, with consolidated figures due at the head office on September 16.
How High Have Fares Actually Gone?
With Ganesh Chaturthi falling on Monday and creating a long weekend, operators have hiked fares by up to three times for Friday and Saturday and twice over for Sunday.
A Volvo 9600 AC sleeper berth from Bengaluru to Hubballi is listed at Rs 5,000 for Friday, while fares to Mangaluru, Kundapur, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi hover between Rs 4,000 and Rs 4,999. Bengaluru–Sirsi tickets touching Rs 6,999 and Rs 7,999 left one user on X wondering, per Deccan Herald, if the bus had turned into an aircraft.
KSRTC is running 2,400 extra buses from September 11 to 13 at up to 20% above normal fares, with most seats already booked.
What Are Bus Operators Saying?
The Karnataka State Bus Owners’ Association has defended the fares, arguing the Transport Department has no authority under the Motor Vehicles Act to fine or cancel luxury bus permits, and that comparing private operators to state-run KSRTC is “unfair.”
Complaints about exorbitant fares can be lodged at 9449863429 or 9449863426.
