Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Bengaluru voters face rising bus fares during election time Rajendra, April 13, 2019December 3, 2023 During the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, voters traveling from Bengaluru to their hometowns and villages by bus to cast their votes will encounter a significant surge in transport fares. Bus fares from Bengaluru to various parts of Karnataka and neighboring states have nearly doubled, causing financial implications for the voters. The first phase of elections in Karnataka is scheduled for April 18, but the polling date falls in the midst of holidays. With April 17 being Mahaveer Jayanti and April 19 being Good Friday, a long weekend ensues, contributing to increased travel demand. Online booking portals indicate a substantial increase in seat fares from Bengaluru to cities like Hyderabad and Mangaluru, reaching around Rs 2,000. Typically, on regular days, fares range between Rs 800 and 1,000. Notably, private buses traveling from Bengaluru to towns such as Udupi, Madikeri, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, and North Karnataka districts have witnessed a surge in fares by at least 30 to 50 percent. In response to such practices, the Karnataka transport department had previously instructed officials to take action against bus operators, including canceling their licenses, during the festival seasons and long weekends in March 2019. An official from the Transport department urged passengers to report complaints regarding increased bus ticket prices during such periods via phone or email. Penalties would be imposed on bus operators found guilty of such practices. Concerns are also raised about the potential impact of the long weekend on voter turnout in Bengaluru, known for historically low participation during elections. Despite various awareness campaigns conducted by the election commission, the city recorded only a 54.76% voter turnout in the 2018 assembly election. N Manjunath Prasad, the district election officer, emphasized the need for awareness programs and campaigns to improve voter turnout. Plans include radio talks, shows, street plays, and demonstrations of the voting process. Bengaluru has a total of 72,64,796 registered voters, with 37,78,873 males and 34,84,702 females, according to BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad. bus news