Karnataka Bus Fares Go Up From Tonight: What BMTC And KSRTC Passengers Will Pay Now

 

Bus travel in Karnataka is about to cost more. The state government on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, announced a fare hike across all four state-run transport corporations, with the revised rates coming into effect from midnight. For millions of daily passengers in Bengaluru and across the state, the change will show up in ticket prices from Thursday, November 5.

Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh announced the decision after a meeting with officials and the heads of the four corporations. The hike covers the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

What Changes For BMTC Passengers

Bengaluru's city bus passengers will see the steepest increase. The average hike for BMTC services is between 33 and 35 per cent.

The minimum fare on BMTC buses has gone up from Rs 6 to Rs 10, while the maximum fare has risen from Rs 35 to Rs 45. The hike applies to ordinary, express and airport bus services run by the corporation.

What Changes For KSRTC And Other Corporations

For KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC, the average fare increase is around 23 per cent, lower than the BMTC revision. KSRTC ordinary bus fares have been increased by up to Rs 9, depending on the distance travelled.

Express fares on KSRTC services will rise from Rs 81 to Rs 100, while long-distance fares will increase from Rs 75 to Rs 90. An ordinary journey from Bengaluru to nearby towns such as Nelamangala and Hoskote will now cost Rs 44, up from Rs 35. Inter-city and rural passengers served by NWKRTC and KKRTC will also see higher ticket prices from November 5.

Why The Government Says The Hike Was Needed

The government has pointed to rising operational costs, especially diesel prices, and the financial health of the transport corporations. The minister said the hike was necessary to keep services running and to offset mounting losses.

The final increase is smaller than what was recommended. The Public Transport Fare Regulatory Committee, headed by retired IAS officer Atul Kumar Tiwari, had recommended a 25 per cent hike for KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC and a 40 per cent hike for BMTC. The corporations themselves had sought increases of up to 90 per cent. The minister had earlier promised that the actual hike would not be as steep as the panel's suggestion.

Defending the decision, Suresh also noted that other states, including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, have already raised bus fares. The four Karnataka corporations last raised fares by a flat 15 per cent in January 2025.

What This Means For Daily Commuters

For office-goers, students and workers who depend on state buses every day, even a small per-trip increase adds up over a month. A commuter making two BMTC trips a day could pay roughly Rs 8 to Rs 20 more daily, depending on the distance.

At the same time, the corporations argue that without a revision, service quality and fleet maintenance would suffer.

Conclusion

The Karnataka bus fare hike is now a reality, with BMTC passengers facing the sharpest rise and KSRTC passengers a more moderate one. The government says the move was unavoidable; commuters will judge it by the quality of the service they get in return.

Do you think the fare hike is justified, or should the government have done more to protect daily commuters? Share your view in the comments.