Bus services, including private buses, halted between Maharashtra and Karnataka over language dispute, fearing the safety of passengers and staff, led to an airfare hike. The bus operators said that the bus services between the two states will not resume till the tensions end.
This comes after a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus conductor was allegedly assaulted in a Belagavi district. KSRTC runs over 120 buses every day from Belgavi to different parts of Maharashtra, while MSRTC runs another 250 daily services to the southern state. The simmering tension in border areas has led to the suspension of nearly all these interstate bus services.
Also Read | Maharashtra-Karnataka Bus Services Suspended For Second Day Over Language Dispute.
The tensions between these states have caused the air ticket prices between Mumbai and Bengaluru to soar. According to the Hindustan Times newspaper, the ticket price from Mumbai to Bengaluru has soared up to Rs 30,000. On Sunday, February 23, tickets on Indigo's late evening flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru were selling for Rs 17,500, while Akasa Air's late night flight was priced at R12,000.
The most expensive was Air India's flight at 9.30 pm, with each ticket costing Rs 30,000. For flights from Bengaluru to Mumbai, fares on Sunday ranged from Rs 10,000 to Rs 23,000, reported HT.