Confirming the increase in demand on certain routes, KSRTC officials said their fares have remained the same. | Photo credit: file photo
The widespread disruption of IndiGo’s flight services over the past few days has created chaos for passengers on major routes, leading to a hike in private bus fares.
With last-minute cancellations leaving passengers stranded, demand for alternative modes of travel has skyrocketed and so have ticket prices, according to travelers in the city.
The rush has led to the capacity of long-distance premium bus services being filled to capacity. Travelers heading to major cities said they endured 14- to 24-hour road trips that would normally take two to four hours by air.
Commuters on the Bengaluru-Mumbai route were among the worst affected. Bus operators have sharply increased fares and in many cases exceeded the original ticket price. Seats that usually cost between ₹2,000 and ₹2,500 were being sold for ₹3,000 to ₹8,000, which outraged many passengers and accused the operators of being greedy for profit during the crisis.
Similar fare hikes were reported on routes from Bengaluru to Hyderabad, Pune, Belagavi, Chennai and Ahmedabad where passengers had no option but to pay exorbitant fares. With trains running full and ticket prices rising following the cancellations, many passengers said they had no available options.
“Taking Advantage”
Rajesh Kumar, a Mumbai resident employed by a private firm in Koramangala, said, “On Friday, I booked an IndiGo ticket to Mumbai for ₹ 6,500 but it was canceled with no alternative offered. The refund came but now I am forced to book a bus seat for ₹ 7,500 and we know that the bus journey costs more than the Opera ticket. They are using the situation to squeeze every one of us out.” rupee.”
Nataraj Sharma, president of the Karnataka Private Bus Owners’ Association, admitted that some transporters had hiked the fares significantly.
“We strongly condemn the exploitation of passengers in times of emergency. Most of the private bus operators in Karnataka have not resorted to such practices. However, we are aware that a few, especially some non-state operators who enter the market only in high demand situations, have taken advantage of stranded passengers. This does not reflect the industry as a whole and we will advise our members to maintain fair pricing.”
Careful monitoring
Department of Transportation officials said they are closely monitoring the situation.
“If any private operator is found to have arbitrarily increased prices to an unreasonable level, we will initiate strict action,” the official said, adding that enforcement teams have been instructed to look into complaints and take action whenever necessary.
Meanwhile, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) officials said their fares have remained unchanged. They confirmed an increase in demand on Mumbai routes as well as Mangaluru-Pune and Mangaluru-Mumbai sectors.
“To cope with the increased passenger load, several additional buses have been deployed on these routes,” a senior KSRTC official told The Hindu.
Published – 07 Dec 2025 20:29 IST
