Electric bus fare hike by Karnataka government questioned as commuters cite diesel price rationale
Commuters are questioning why passengers using electric bus services should bear the brunt of the fare revision, which is primarily attributed to the rising cost of diesel. | Photo credit: File Photo
The Karnataka government’s decision to increase fares on Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) services has drawn criticism from commuters, who have questioned the reasons given for citing rising diesel prices to justify the hike, especially as part of the company’s fleet now includes electric buses.
This issue has gained attention in the context of the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, under which electric buses are operated by private contractors. Commuters pointed out that several conventional diesel buses, especially on the Vayu Vajra routes connecting the city to the Kempegowda International Airport, have been replaced by electric buses. They questioned why passengers using these services should also bear the burden of the fare revision, which is primarily attributed to the rising cost of diesel.
“Inconsistent”
Jagan Desai, a BMTC commuter from Vijayanagar, said the decision seems to go against the government’s efforts to promote electric mobility and encourage people to use public transport. “The government has spent years encouraging people to adopt electric public transport as part of its efforts to tackle Bengaluru’s worsening air pollution and traffic congestion. However, rising prices for services run by electric buses sends a mixed message. These vehicles are not dependent on diesel, yet their passengers are also being asked to pay more,” he said.
He added that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh attributed the fare revision to the ₹10.47 hike in diesel prices since May. “While the increase in fuel prices may have affected the company’s diesel-run services, applying the same rationale to electric buses raises questions about the basis of the revision. Passengers are being asked to pay higher fares even for services that are not directly affected by fluctuations in diesel prices,” he said.
According to BMTC data, there are 1,779 GCC model buses operating in Bengaluru. Against the company’s total fleet of 6,907 buses, including electric, diesel and BS-VI vehicles, these buses constitute approximately 25.7% of its fleet.
The idea of different tariffs appeared
Another commuter, Srinivas Babu from Sanjaynagar, asked why the corporation could not consider a separate fare structure for electric buses. “Since electric buses are part of the BMTC fleet, the company should at least examine whether passengers using these services can have lower fares. If the aim of introducing electric buses is to promote cleaner and more sustainable public transport, commuters should also benefit from this transition. Why should passengers traveling on non-diesel buses pay the same increased fare as conventionally powered buses?” he asked.
BMTC prevents hikes
But BMTC officials defended the decision, saying that fares are determined uniformly throughout the corporation and are not calculated based on the fuel consumed by individual buses.
The official said the corporation operated as an integrated transport system with expenses beyond fuel costs, including staff salaries, maintenance, infrastructure and other operational commitments. “BMTC does not maintain separate fares for diesel and electric buses. The revenue collected across different services and vehicle categories is pooled to cover the overall expenditure of the company. Any operational savings achieved through electric buses also contribute towards meeting the cost of other routes, including services that continue to operate with conventional fuel-powered vehicles,” the official said.
Published – 05 Nov 2026 21:11 IST