The Karnataka bus fare hike has taken effect across Dakshina Kannada, with fares on Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and other state-owned transport services rising by about 23%, increasing the cost of travel from Mangaluru to major towns and cities across the region.
The fare from Mangaluru to Dharmasthala has increased from ₹85 to ₹105. The Mangaluru–Subrahmanya fare has risen from ₹120 to ₹147, while the Mangaluru–Kasaragod fare has gone up from ₹81 to ₹89. Passengers travelling from Mangaluru to Uppinangady will now pay ₹61 instead of ₹49, and the Mangaluru–Udupi fare has increased from ₹75 to ₹91.
The revised fares also affect longer-distance services connecting the coastal districts with Bengaluru, Mysuru and northern Karnataka. The Udupi–Bengaluru fare has risen from ₹528 to ₹641, while the Mangaluru–Bengaluru fare has increased from ₹461 to ₹559. The Kundapura–Bengaluru fare has gone up from ₹579 to ₹715.
For Mysuru-bound passengers, the fare from Mangaluru has increased from ₹338 to ₹410. The Udupi–Mysuru fare is now ₹477, compared with ₹390 earlier, while the Kundapura–Mysuru fare has risen from ₹441 to ₹553. Passengers travelling from Mangaluru to Sirsi via Hubballi will pay ₹606, up from ₹500. The Mangaluru–Ankola–Hubballi fare has increased from ₹525 to ₹637.
According to the report by Prajavani, fares for some long-distance journeys have risen by as much as ₹100. The increase affects daily commuters, students, workers and passengers travelling between Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and neighbouring districts, although the report does not specify separate changes for different passenger categories.
The fare revision has also prompted the Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners’ Association to consider an increase in private-bus fares. The association is expected to hold a meeting after the Deepavali festival before taking a decision. Private buses play a significant role in the district’s transport network, particularly on routes connecting smaller towns and villages with Mangaluru and other commercial centres.
Association president Aziz Parthipady said private bus operators had not increased fares since 2021, while the cost of spare parts, tyres, oil and grease, chassis, insurance and staff salaries had risen by about 25%. He said the district’s private-bus system, which has operated for more than a century, was running at a loss and had not received government concessions. He also said the Shakti scheme benefits government buses but not private operators.
The association has also raised questions about the financial effect of the fare increase on the Shakti scheme, under which women travel free on eligible government bus services. A representative cited in the report said the reimbursement payable for women’s tickets could increase after the fare revision and claimed that the government might face a higher financial burden while trying to reduce transport corporation losses. The report does not include a government response or details of any revised reimbursement agreement.
The immediate next steps are the implementation of the revised government-bus fares and the Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners’ Association meeting after Deepavali, where private-bus operators are expected to discuss whether to revise fares.
