On December 23, when most people leave the city for their Christmas and New Year’s vacations, bus fare from Bengaluru to Ernakulam and Coimbatore has reached a staggering ₹7,000.
Story so far: Bus fares on nearly all routes leaving Bengaluru have crossed ₹5,000 per ticket, which is about 4-5 times the standard fare, due to infrequent trains, KSRTC buses, and a lack of compliance by transportation officials. After New Year’s, there is a similar demand for buses and trains to Bengaluru from other cities.
- KSRTC and train tickets are sold out, and there are no additional trains/buses operating for the festive season.
- Intercity private bus fares are unusually high this year.
Possible causes: One, many bus drivers stopped operating their businesses as a result of financial losses brought on the Covid-19 and rising diesel prices. Two, there aren’t enough buses since banks and private lenders seized vehicles for EMI default. Operators only turn a profit on holidays and weekends because of the high demand.