Delay in implementation of revised bus fares in a few buses added to the already existing woes of KSRTC which is reeling under severe financial crisis. Though revised bus fares came into effect since May 1, in many buses it is yet to be implemented due to the ambiguity and legal challenges.

In the first week of May, most of the buses under Fast, Super Fast and Deluxe categories operated in old rates. It is learnt that this resulted in a loss of Rs 30 lakhs per day. In some routes the rate revision has not yet been implemented. Bizarrely, there are different rates for same distances in the buses from two different depots.

Generally, new rates are implemented on the same day when the revision comes into effect. However, this time it was introduced in a staggered manner.

This is because of bus fare list that was rolled out without proper thought. It is important to note that special bus fares were introduced when bus services resumed after the Covid-19 lockdown period. The then rationale was to avoid crowding in the buses and the rates were increased by 25 per cent. However, when the pandemic situation eased, the government did not revoke the special bus fares. What happened was that those increased bus fares became the base for rate revision. If that base range was selected, then KSRTC would have become the public transport entity in India that charges highest bus fares in the country. This might also invite legal action. To avoid that, transport minister Antony Raju directed the higher officials to prepare a new list. It is learnt that the ambiguity over the matter is not yet resolved, which in turn has caused partial implementation of revised rates.

Meanwhile, to mitigate the financial crisis, KSRTC has hiked duty surrender payment rate for the drivers and bus conductors. Duty surrender means the payment given to drivers and conductors who work overtime.

Duty surrender payment for drivers was at Rs 630/day, while it was Rs 600/day for conductors. The hiked duty surrender payment for drivers and conductors are Rs 925 and Rs 900 respectively. The objective is to reduce the crisis from lack of adequate staff without hiring new individuals.