VB Fact-Check: Viral tweet showing hike in KSRTC ticket prices false, confirms KSRTC
Bengaluru: A viral tweet is doing rounds on social media, asking whether there has been a significant increase in ticket fares by the state operator KSRTC following the introduction of the free travel scheme. The tweet, posted by user @sAnand1405, questions the extent of the price rise, which appears to contradict the Congress government's decision to implement the "Shakthi" Yojana, offering free travel for women on KSRTC and BMTC buses.
The Viral Tweet!
The user @sAnand1405 shared a tweet featuring a photograph of two different tickets issued on the Virajpete-Mysuru route. The tickets displayed varying fares, with one ticket indicating a price of Rs 121 distributed on 22nd April, and the other ticket showing a fare of Rs 130 distributed on 3rd June.
The user further questioned whether this was an increase done by the Congress Govt in conjunction with the newly formed government’s decision to implement 5 guarantees including the free travel for women.
The user wrote in the tweet, “Is this true? Can anyone confirm? Bus fares gone up since the bitti govt took office?”
Is this true?
— Sanjeev (@SAnand1405) June 4, 2023
Can anyone confirm?
Bus fares gone up since the bitti govt took office? pic.twitter.com/vT36fzcc9z
Fact-Check: KSRTC fares have not gone up, fares mistakenly set in electronic ticketing machines
Speaking to the Vartha Bharathi a KSRTC official confirmed that there were no rise in fares operated by the state owned KSRTC. Both the buses were operated by two different divisions and were traveling to Napoklu in Madikeri.
As seen in the photo of the tickets, the first ticket shows Harohalli depot in Ramanagara division and the second shows Hunsur division.
Meanwhile, the actual fare for the ticket from Virajpete to Mysuru, as well as in the opposite direction, is Rs 130, said the official. “The bus from Ramanagara division and another from Harohalli depot operate two buses on the same route, which is bound to Napoklu in Madikeri, the fare for this particular journey from Virajpete to Mysuru was intended to be Rs 130. However, due to an error while entering the fares into the Electronic Ticketing Machine (ETM), it was mistakenly set as Rs 121. Altough, instead of collecting Rs 130 that is the actual fare we have collected less on that particular trip operated on 22 April, which was unintentional and was a mistake,” confirmed the official.
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Followed poll processes transparently, will review all legitimate concerns: EC to Cong
New Delhi (PTI): The Election Commission on Saturday asserted that all poll procedures it followed in Maharashtra were transparent and assured that it would review all legitimate concerns flagged by the Congress, which alleged serious inconsistencies.
In its interim response to the party, the poll authority invited a Congress delegation on December 3 to discuss concerns expressed by it.
The Congress on Friday raised with the Election Commission "serious and grave inconsistencies" which it said were being revealed in the data relating to the polling and counting processes for the recently-concluded Maharashtra Assembly polls and sought an in-person hearing to present relevant evidence.
In the response, the EC reiterated that the process was transparent with the involvement of candidates or their agents at every stage.
The commission also assured of a review of the Congress' legitimate concerns and a written response after hearing the party's delegation in person.
It asserted that a transparent electoral roll updation process was undertaken with the involvement of all political parties.
Responding to the issue regarding the voter turnout data, the EC asserted that there was no discrepancy in it and the data was available with all candidates polling station-wise and is verifiable.
The gap in the 5 pm polling data and the final voter turnout was due to procedural priorities, as presiding officers perform multiple statutory duties near the close of polling before updating the voter turnout data.
As an additional disclosure measure, an EC press note at around 11:45 pm was introduced during the 2024 Lok Sabha election and followed subsequently during all assembly polls thereafter, the poll body told the Congress.
