Karnataka Forms Public Transport Fare Regulation Committee; Mohandas Pai Urges CM Siddaramaiah to Open Doors for Private Operators
Bengaluru: In a move mirroring the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission’s structure, the state government has constituted a Public Transport Fare Regulation Committee to ensure scientific and periodic revision of bus ticket fares based on fuel price fluctuations and operational costs.
According to the official gazette notification issued by the Transport Department under the Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, the committee will consist of a Chairperson and two members, with the chair likely to be a retired Additional Chief Secretary or a former Karnataka High Court Judge.
The committee will study the financial health of the state’s road transport corporations and recommend periodic fare adjustments, including potential surcharges or fee modifications to stabilize finances and improve efficiency. It will also submit its annual report to the State Legislature before December 31 each year, detailing its findings and fare recommendations.
The announcement has already sparked political and industry reactions. Entrepreneur Mohandas Pai, in a post on X, congratulated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the “great reform,” but also urged him to extend similar opportunities to private operators, noting that Bengaluru has over 1,5000 private buses that could help improve commuter services and ensure customer protection.”
Meanwhile, in the wake of the tragic bus fire in Kannur, Andhra Pradesh, which claimed 20 lives, the Karnataka Transport Department has intensified its focus on safety preparedness. The BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) has instructed all depot managers to ensure strict compliance with passenger safety protocols.
Each bus must now carry functional fire extinguishers, a first aid kit, and ensure emergency exits and doors are operational. In air-conditioned Volvo buses, emergency hammers are now mandatory to break window glass in case of accidents.
Transport officials said these directions are part of a broader passenger-safety initiative following the Kannur tragedy, where jammed bus doors reportedly prevented passengers from escaping the fire.
The Siddaramaiah government’s new Public Transport Fare Regulation Committee thus aims not only at scientific fare management but also at restoring public confidence in safety and accountability across Karnataka’s transport sector.
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