The ongoing agitation over the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu has burnt a deep hole in the pockets of commuters travelling between Mysore and Bangalore.
KSRTC Mysore Divisional Traffic Officer Dundu Madaiah said that he was directed by the KSRTC to hike the fare by Rs 25 from Wednesday morning as the buses are diverted to bypass Bannur as the agitators are not allowing the buses. The hike will apply to express and nonstop buses too. However, there is no hike in Rajahamsa fare and it remains at Rs 162. Volvo buses have been stopped fearing heavy losses if targeted.
According to revised fares, a journey from Mysore to Bangalore Majestic will cost Rs 135 and to satellite bus stop Rs 130. KSRTC sources said that it is to tide over the expenses of extra fuel consumed. Due to protests in Mandya, state transport buses were plying through an alternative route via Malavalli to reach Bangalore bypassing Srirangapatna, Mandya, Maddur, Channapatna, Ramanagaram, Bidadi and Kengeri since Monday. Now with the agitations boiling up in Bannur, a Kabini belt, the route has been again diverted. The latest alternative route is via T Narasipur, Talakad, Halagur, Sathanur, Kanakapura, Kengeri and Satellite bus stop at Bangalore which adds another 30 kilometre to the 140 kilometre stretch.
A KSRTC driver on condition of anonymity said that a bus was consuming 60 litres of diesel to travel between Mysore and Bangalore to cover 140 kms in three hours. Now, it takes more than five hours to cover 170 kms to reach Bangalore via alternative routes.
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