Bus fares to be hiked soon

BANGALORE: Today onwards, LPG, kerosene and diesel are going to cost more.LPG has become costlier by Rs 50, kerosene by Rs 2 a litre and diesel by Rs 3 a litre.A KSRTC official said, "It is a necessity to hike the bus fares after the hike in fuel. The revised bus fare will be introduced within two days.""We [have] called an emergence meeting of all the association on June 27, then we will take a decision," All India Motor Transport Congress President G R Shanmugappa said, reacting to increase in price of diesel."It is Karnataka government that is charging highest price in the country, the toll tax at the plaza and insurance has increased recently. Besides, they are increasing the diesel price also. Per lorry, we will be charged Rs 9,000-10,000 every day because of these hikes," he said.Karnataka Petrol Bunk Association President Ravindranath said the increased was expected as during the increase in the price of petrol, price of diesel was not hiked. He added that the new hike will be a burden on the citizens as transportation charges would consequently increase. He said increase in the price of diesel will affect everyone directly.Sharadha Krishna, a resident of Vijayanagara, said the government was increasing the price of LPG all the time. She quipped that in the past five years, her husband's salary had increased just once. She said before effecting any hike, the government should consider common man's concerns. She lamented that the hikes would be a burden on them.