ABVP stages protest against bus fare hike

ABVP protests against KSRTC fare hike in Belagavi, demanding immediate withdrawal to ease burden on commuters and students.

Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP) members staged a protest against the hike in KSRTC bus fares in Belagavi on Monday.

Protestors marched to the Rani Parvati Devi Circle and shouted slogans against the State government that had caused a hike of around 15% in bus fares.

They demanded that the fare hike be withdrawn immediately.

The State government has imposed this burden on the poor, daily wage workers and the middle class with this increase in ticket prices, they said.

Thousands of people depend on government buses to commute to their work every day and they will be put to great inconvenience. This is not justifiable, they said.

They demanded that the State transport undertakings aim at increasing the number of buses and not the fare. The government is well aware of the increase in the number of passengers travelling in buses daily due to the Shakti Yojana but due to the stagnating number of buses and service routes, it is not benefiting the people.

It is also negatively impacting students who depend on State transport buses to reach schools and colleges daily. Students are forced to walk to school or use private vehicles as most buses are full and can no longer accommodate them. The government should increase the number of buses and service routes to facilitate the travel of students and the common people, they said.