The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) recently addressed commuter grievances regarding increased bus fares on the popular Bengaluru-Mysuru route. They clarified on Monday that implementing special fares during the festive Dasara season is a tradition spanning nearly two decades.
KSRTC officials explained that these fare adjustments are not arbitrary but are applied only on specific dates, as allowed by a Karnataka government directive. This notification permits fare revisions during special occasions like festivals, fairs, and public holidays. The reason behind this, according to a KSRTC official, is the need to manage higher operational costs. During Dasara, the corporation deploys extra one-way services to Mysuru, and these buses frequently return to Bengaluru with significantly fewer passengers. Additionally, vehicles are often redeployed from other operational divisions to meet the surge in demand.
For those traveling between Bengaluru and Mysuru, an extra charge of ₹20 will apply to express bus services, while non-stop and premium services will see an increase of ₹30. These adjusted fares are effective from September 26th to October 8th this year.
KSRTC officials emphasized that this fare hike is a temporary measure designed to guarantee sufficient bus availability for the large number of travelers expected during the festival. They reiterated, ‘This is a long-standing practice during Dasara, ensuring commuters always have access to enough buses despite the heightened demand.’