Karnataka Bus Fare Hike 2026: New BMTC and KSRTC Ticket Prices From November 5

Travelling by bus in Karnataka is about to become more expensive. The state government has announced a revision of fares across all four state-run transport corporations - BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC. The revised prices will come into effect from midnight on November 4, 2026, meaning passengers will pay the new fares from November 5.

For Bengaluru residents who depend on BMTC buses for their daily commute, the increase could be particularly noticeable. The minimum BMTC ticket fare has increased from ₹6 to ₹10, while the maximum fare has gone up from ₹35 to ₹45. Intercity passengers travelling through KSRTC services will also have to adjust their travel budgets.

The decision comes amid rising diesel prices, higher employee-related expenses and mounting financial losses faced by Karnataka's state-run transport corporations.

Karnataka Bus Fare Hike 2026: What's Changing?

The fare revision covers the following four transport corporations:

• BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation): City buses and airport services across Bengaluru.

• KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation): Intercity and long-distance bus services.

• NWKRTC (North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation): Bus services across north-western Karnataka.

• KKRTC (Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation): Public transport services across the Kalyana Karnataka region.

According to Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh, the average fare increase is approximately 23% for KSRTC, while BMTC fares have increased by around 32-35%. However, the actual increase varies depending on the service and distance travelled.

BMTC Bus Fare Hike: New Ticket Prices in Bengaluru

For Bengaluru commuters, the revised BMTC fares are among the most noticeable changes.

The minimum fare for ordinary BMTC city buses has increased from ₹6 to ₹10, while the maximum ticket fare has increased from ₹35 to ₹45.

Passengers using premium and airport services will also face revised ticket prices.

For people travelling to work, college or other parts of the city every day, even a small increase in individual tickets can add up over an entire month.

Airport commuters will also need to account for the revised Vayu Vajra fares when planning their journeys to Kempegowda International Airport.

KSRTC Bus Fare Hike: Revised Prices for Popular Routes

The fare revision also affects passengers travelling between Bengaluru and other cities and towns in Karnataka.

Here are some reported examples of revised fares on selected routes:

Ordinary bus services

Express and Vegadoota services

These are selected reported fares, not an exhaustive route-wise fare chart. Ticket prices differ according to bus category, distance and applicable fare stages.

Passengers travelling on premium services such as Rajahamsa and air-conditioned buses will also see revised fares. The government has stated that pricing for these services has been determined with reference to prevailing market rates.

Why Has Karnataka Increased Bus Fares?

The government has attributed the revision to increasing operational expenses and the financial condition of the four transport corporations.

Some of the major factors behind the decision include:

1. Rising diesel prices

Fuel is one of the biggest expenses for state-run bus services. Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh cited an increase of ₹10.47 per litre in diesel prices, adding an estimated ₹500 crore to the corporations' financial burden.

The corporations reportedly spend approximately ₹5,694 crore annually on diesel.

2. Increasing employee expenses

Salary revisions and other employee-related payments have added to the financial pressure on the transport corporations.

The government has also highlighted substantial outstanding employee-related liabilities.

3. Mounting financial losses

The four transport corporations are facing accumulated losses and outstanding liabilities running into thousands of crores.

Earlier reports cited losses of approximately ₹9,000 crore. The November 4 announcement put the outstanding liabilities and dues at approximately ₹9,912 crore as of September 30, 2026, according to Moneycontrol.

The government has argued that revising fares is necessary to maintain the financial sustainability of these corporations and ensure the continuation of public transport services.

Will the Shakti Scheme Be Affected?

One question that may come up among passengers is whether the fare revision will affect the state's Shakti scheme.

The Shakti scheme allows eligible women domiciled in Karnataka to travel free on eligible non-air-conditioned state-run buses within Karnataka.

According to the Transport Minister, the scheme will continue, and eligible women passengers can continue using their free travel benefit.

The minister has also maintained that the government reimburses the transport corporations for journeys undertaken under the scheme. He cited pending reimbursements of approximately ₹5,000 crore, which the government has assured will be released in phases.

What Does the Fare Hike Mean for Daily Commuters?

For regular passengers, the increase means that transportation will take up a slightly larger share of monthly household expenses.

Bengaluru commuters using BMTC buses for short-distance journeys may particularly notice the change, with the minimum fare moving from ₹6 to ₹10.

Intercity travellers will also need to factor in higher ticket prices when planning weekend trips, family visits and daily journeys between neighbouring towns.

For people who frequently travel between Bengaluru and destinations such as Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kolar and Hassan, the revised KSRTC fares could make a noticeable difference to travel budgets.

Passengers are advised to check the latest fare displayed at ticket counters or through official booking channels before starting their journeys, particularly when travelling on premium and long-distance services.

Karnataka Bus Fare Hike 2026: Important Details at a Glance

Final Thoughts

Karnataka's latest bus fare revision brings a change to everyday travel costs across the state. While the government has cited rising fuel prices, employee expenses and financial pressure on transport corporations as reasons for the decision, passengers will now have to accommodate higher fares in their daily and intercity travel budgets.

For Bengaluru residents, the increase in BMTC fares is likely to be the most immediately noticeable. For those travelling beyond the city, revised KSRTC fares will make it important to check ticket prices before planning their next journey.

One thing is certain: if public buses are your everyday travel companion in Karnataka, your usual bus ride is going to cost a little more.