Private Bus Fares in Karnataka Hiked by 5-8% Due to Rising Diesel and Operational Costs

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Udupi : Private bus ticket prices across Karnataka have been increased by 5% to 8% following a steep rise in diesel prices and overall vehicle maintenance costs. Announcing the decision at a press conference in Udupi, Kuilady Suresh Nayak, President of the Karnataka State Stage Carriage Bus Owners’ Associations Federation, explained that the fare revision had become inevitable for the survival of the private transport sector. He pointed out that a Rs 3 hike by the state government a year ago, combined with four consecutive central government hikes totaling Rs 8.17 on diesel, alongside rising costs for spare parts, tyre resoling, toll fees, employee salaries, government taxes, and insurance, heavily burdened bus operators.

The fare adjustment has been implemented in accordance with the State Government Notification No. TD 81 TDM 2020, which permits a cess of 4 paise per passenger up to a maximum of 0.25 paise per kilometer. Based on this provision, the federation decided on a 5% to 8% hike on existing rates. The revised tariff structure has come into effect across all districts of the state starting Monday, June 8, 2026. This price revision specifically applies to daytime stage carriage private buses, whereas the ticket pricing for night-service buses remains unaffected. Furthermore, the federation clarified that student concessions will continue as usual without any modifications under the new fare structure.

The federation, which represents around 5,300 private buses across Karnataka, also released the updated ticket pricing for several major commuting routes in the coastal region. Following the revision, the travel fare from Udupi to Mangaluru has been increased from Rs 95 to Rs 100, while the Udupi to Kundapura route will now cost Rs 63 instead of Rs 60. Short-distance travel between Udupi and Manipal sees a marginal increase from Rs 12 to Rs 13, and the fare for Udupi to Karkala moves from Rs 58 to Rs 60. For longer commutes along the coast, passengers traveling between Kundapura and Mangaluru will now have to pay Rs 153, up from the previous fare of Rs 145.