Bengaluru: A day after the Chairmen of two State Transport Corporations (KSRTC and NWKRTC) hinted at an imminent bus fare hike due to mounting losses, State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has ruled out fare hike for now.

Speaking to presspersons before the start of the Monsoon Session of the State Legislature at Vidhana Soudha here yesterday, he said that the fare hike statements made by the heads of two State Transport Undertakings, is their personal one and there is no proposal before the Government regarding hike.

Only on Sunday, KSRTC Chairman S.R. Srinivas and NWKRTC Chairman Raju Kage had made separate statements indicating that bus fare hike was on the cards as the RTCs were running under loss due to hike in fuel prices, rising prices of spare parts and increasing operational costs. Now, the Transport Minister’s statement has put to rest speculations on bus fare hike, which has come as a welcome relief for people who are feeling the heat over-soaring prices of essential commodities and rising inflation.