KSRTC, BMTC bus fares can’t be cut: Transport Minister
No probe into purchase of buses by previous govts
Bengaluru: The state government is in no mood to reduce KSRTC and BMTC bus fares after the cut in diesel prices over the last few days.
Transport Minister Rama linga Reddy on Monday said that if the fares are reduced, it would burden the two state-run transport corporations, which are already running under losses.
Only if the state government increases subsidy to the state corporations and reduces the road tax can the transport department think of cutting the fares, Mr Reddy said.
On the BJP leaders’ protest demanding a cut in the bus fares, he said, “I would like to ask BJP state president Pralhad Joshi whether any BJP-ruled state has reduced the bus fares after the diesel prices were slashed.”
On former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s letter alleging that the Transport Minister was responsible for KSRTC and BMTC suffering losses, Mr Reddy has given the financial details of the four divisions of the KSRTC.
The letter states that KSRTC incurred a loss of Rs 75 crore and BMTC Rs 137 crore last fiscal.
“Mr Kumaraswamy has alleged that BMTC and KSTRC have incurred losses during my tenure. But he should not forget that even during his government all the four divisions suffered heavy losses,” he said.
This year, however, the financial health of BMTC has improved with profits of Rs 20 crore, he said.
When asked, Mr Reddy said that he will not order an inquiry into purchase of buses by previous governments. He advised officials of the two corporations not to seek fresh loans.