After the Karnataka government charged migrant laborers, students, and pilgrims for their commute between two districts, the President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, DK Shivkumar has announced a contribution of 1 crore to KSRTC.
On Saturday, the Karnataka State Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has reportedly hiked prices of the tickets. The tickets of the buses that have been designated to carry stranded people to their hometown have been hiked massively. If reports are to be believed, the KSRTC buses are charging 39 rupees per kilometer apart from the toll fee and the round trip charges. A total charge of the trip is calculated which is then divided by 30 which is the number of passengers allowed to keep the social distancing norm.
DK Shivkumar put out a tweet announcing that the KPCC would be donating a sum of 1 crore rupees to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and urged the government to make the commute of stranded laborers, students and pilgrims free of cost. In his tweet, he wrote,
“Giving 1 crore Cheque to KSRTC from the KPCC for ensuring Free Transport to our working-class & labor people who are suffering to reach home because of the rates being charged by the Karnataka government.”
He also added that the government can let the Congress know if there is more shortage of funds which he promised that KPCC will fulfill.
The government makes commute free of cost in an hour
An hour later, the Karnataka government announced free commute to those returning to homes in the state. The announcement came into effect from today and it is reported that the announcement was made on the spot.
Earlier, the price of a ticket for a passenger to commute to Bagalkot from Bengaluru is a whopping 1311 rupees. The same for Bidar is 1984 rupees which is the highest for an inter-district commute in the state. Similarly, for Belagavi it is 1478, for Kalburgi it is 1619, for Tumkuru it is 209, for Dharwad, it is 1239, etc. For a family of four to reach Bidar, the cost comes down to 8000 rupees. Among the stranded people are laborers who have not been able to afford food and shelter.
