Karnataka private bus operators blame Shakti scheme, BMTC expansion for loss: Report
Bengaluru: Private bus operators in Karnataka have raised concerns over mounting financial losses, attributing the situation to the state government’s Shakti scheme, the expansion of the BMTC network, and the presence of illegal operators.
The Karnataka State Private Bus Owners’ Association submitted a memorandum to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, outlining these grievances, as reported by The New Indian Express on Wednesday.
Association President S. Nataraj Sharma warned that if the issues are not addressed within the next 10 days, bus owners would be compelled to launch statewide protests. According to the memorandum, the Shakti scheme, which provides free travel for women on state-run buses, has significantly reduced the number of fare-paying passengers for private operators.
The association further raised concerns about unfair competition arising from disparities in the All-India Tourist Permit system. They claim that private bus operators in Karnataka are paying substantially higher taxes compared to their counterparts in other states.
The memorandum highlighted that buses registered in states like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, some allegedly operating without proper inspection or in violation of body codes, are entering Karnataka by paying an annual fee of just Rs 60,000, while local operators are charged between Rs 82,000 and Rs 1.58 lakh.
“This creates unhealthy and unfair competition. If clarity is not provided, our members may be forced to re-register vehicles in other states and re-enter Karnataka,” the memorandum stated.
The operators also expressed concerns about increased competition from subsidised electric buses, as well as the recent expansion of the BMTC’s jurisdiction from 25 km to 40 km beyond the city limits. The association argues that the expansion directly overlaps with areas that private operators have served for decades.
“BMTC’s expansion will eliminate the livelihood of private operators in Bengaluru’s periphery,” TNIE quoted Sharma as saying. He further pointed out that, unlike BMTC, private operators do not receive any subsidies, adding to the financial strain.
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Gross GST collections rise 6.2 pc to over Rs 1.93 lakh cr in January
New Delhi (PTI): Gross GST collections rose 6.2 per cent to over Rs 1.93 lakh crore in January, mainly on higher revenues from imports, sources said on Sunday.
Total refunds declined 3.1 per cent to Rs 22,665 crore.
Net Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues, however, grew 7.6 per cent to about Rs 1.71 lakh crore in January.
Cess collection (from tobacco products) in January stood at Rs 5,768 crore. This compares to Rs 13,009 crore in collections in January last year when a cess was levied on luxury, sin and demerit goods such as cars, and tobacco products.
Effective September 22, 2025, GST rates on about 375 items were slashed, making goods cheaper. Also, a compensation cess is levied only on tobacco and related products, as opposed to luxury, sin and demerit goods earlier. The lowering of GST rates has impacted revenue collections.
Gross tax collections from domestic transactions grew 4.8 per cent to Rs 1.41 lakh crore, while import revenues were up 10.1 per cent to Rs 52,253 crore in January.
