KSRTC collected over ₹1.57 crore via fare rounding policy, RTI reveals

KSRTC collected over ₹1.57 crore via fare rounding policy, RTI reveals

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 7, 2025: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) collected over ₹1.57 crore from passengers through a fare rounding-off policy implemented across its premium bus services, according to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query and reported by Deccan Herald.

The rounding-off practice was introduced under Standing Order 774/2016 on March 3, 2016, to tackle the issue of providing exact change. It was enforced from April 15, 2016, across 785 premium services, including Airavat, Rajahamsa, Vaibhav, and EV Power Plus. Under the policy, fares between ₹51 and ₹54 were rounded down to ₹50, while fares between ₹55 and ₹59 were rounded up to ₹60. The directive also applied to AWATAR counter bookings and electronic ticketing machines, with surplus or deficit amounts tracked under a separate accounting head.

RTI data shows that the Mysuru Rural Division reported the highest surplus at ₹55.56 lakh, followed by Bengaluru Central Division with ₹52.73 lakh and Mangaluru Division with ₹18.21 lakh. Some divisions recorded negligible or negative revenue. The Puttur Division collected just ₹125 over nine years and recorded a deficit of ₹62, while the Chikkamagaluru depot reported the highest deficit at ₹19,624.

Passenger rights activist B. Radheshyam, who had submitted multiple complaints to the KSRTC Mangaluru office, criticised the policy. “Rounding off Rs 35.40 to Rs 35 is acceptable, but raising Rs 36 to Rs 40 is a 14.3% increase. That’s exploitation,” he said.

Although KSRTC officially withdrew the policy last Friday, public outrage continues on social media. One user questioned the silence of the chief minister—who had earlier criticised a one-paise-per-kilometre hike by the railways—over KSRTC’s fare rounding. Others condemned the opposition BJP for failing to speak out against what they termed "daylight extortion" by the state-run transport body.