THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the minimum bus fare is hiked to Rs 10 in Kerala, it remains half the rate in our neighbouring states. The minimum bus charge in states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh is Rs 5 only.

In Tamil Nadu, the government has also facilitated free bus travels for women, school students and the elderly. The diesel prices in Tamil Nadu has only slight differences with that of Kerala. Yet, the minimum bus fare in the state continues to remain at Rs 5 for ordinary buses, Rs 6 for limited stops, Rs 7 for express and Rs 11 for deluxe.

A total of 21,000 buses run across Tamil Nadu daily. Although there is an estimated loss of Rs 20 crore per day, the government provides a monthly subsidy of Rs 1200 crore. This rate was last hiked in 2018.

In Karnataka, when the bus charges were revised on February 26, 2020, the minimum bus charge was reduced from Rs 7 to Rs 5. There is no rise in bus fares up to a distance of 15 km.