Latest news with #RamalingaReddy
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Commuters burdened by tipping pressure even as auto fares soar in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: The effects of the crackdown on bike taxis continue to leave commuters grappling with soaring autorickshaw fares, digital tipping demands, and mounting frustration, even after transport minister Ramalinga Reddy warned of strict action against illegal fare collection by auto drivers and aggregator platforms. Auto drivers and ride-hailing apps are openly bypassing fare rules. Commuters report that prices for short trips have nearly doubled since bike taxis went off the roads. Drivers frequently refuse to accept bookings unless a digital tip is added, while many demand extra cash after the ride, often citing vague reasons such as congestion or fuel costs. A recent reality check by TOI found that a JP Nagar-Mysore Bank circle ride, typically costing Rs 150, now costs Rs 210 on apps. Drivers refuse to accept the ride unless a tip of Rs 30 is added — after a 15-minute wait. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru For regular commuters, it is a daily struggle. Harika KV, a 23-year-old intern, said: "Autos are taking a lot of time and only come if we pay tip. After this (bike taxi) ban, auto prices have gone up a lot, which is not at all pocket-friendly for me." Several ride-hailing platforms list multiple extra charges, including service fees, congestion surcharges, and tips ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 100. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo These amounts are often presented as optional, but end up being necessary in practice to secure a ride. Commuters also complain of a lack of transparency about whether these tips even reach the drivers. Vinay M, a 27-year-old from Indiranagar, said: "Drivers often cancel bookings or ask me to pay offline. These days, they don't accept rides without a tip. Once, I had to pay double just to avoid being late for a meeting." Prepaid auto stands near Metro stations have also become ineffective, with drivers refusing to follow the standard fare unless additional cash is offered. Even those willing to use the meter frequently demand Rs 30-60 extra at the end of the trip. Arpita Arun, a 24-year-old MBBS student who commutes from Rajajinagar to Mysuru Road, said her daily expenses have risen sharply. "Autos never use meters, and when we ask them, there's always an excuse. What used to be a Rs 200 bike-taxi ride now costs me over Rs 300 by auto. The least the govt can do is enforce meter usage," she said. Like Arpita, several students TOI spoke with said they are more affected than those with incomes. Vivan R Goyal, a 16-year-old PU student, said: "A ride that used to cost me Rs 120 now costs Rs 200 or more. If I ask them to go by meter, they demand Rs 100 extra. Why ban an affordable option if the alternative is this exploitative?" Some auto drivers admit they are raising prices to make up for lost earnings. "For years, bike taxis kept our rates low. Now that they're gone, we're charging more while we can," said a 45-year-old driver from JP Nagar. A senior traffic officer said enforcement is ongoing but difficult. "We're booking cases against violators, but the sudden bike-taxi ban has left thousands jobless. It's better to regulate bike taxis legally than risk pushing people toward crime," the officer said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Belagavi to get 300 new buses soon: Minister
Belagavi: Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced that 300 buses, including 100 electric ones, will soon be dedicated to the city of Belagavi for public service. He spoke after inaugurating the newly constructed Regional Road Transport office and the Joint Commissioner of Road Transport office in Belagavi on Friday, alongside public works minister Satish Jarkiholi. The city bus stand, constructed under the Smart City project in Belagavi with a 50:50 fund from the central and state govt, will be inaugurated soon. A newly constructed 'Self-propelled Driving Path' built at a cost of Rs 5 crore has been inaugurated in Bailhongal, he said. Vehicles with harsh horns and bright lights should be identified, and fines should be imposed. The entry of middlemen into the transport department office should be restricted, he said. Jarkiholi said there is a need to revitalise the transport department. More strict rules should be implemented for issuing vehicle driving licences as accident cases are increasing. Locally, tractors are being used to honk at the public using DJ sounds, and they should be warned, he said. There is a need for the construction of more bus stops in the districts. At the govt level, the public works department will be ready to allocate places for this. The transport department can formulate plans for the construction of bus stops, he said. Minister for women and child development Laxmi Hebbalkar said as Belagavi district needs more bus facilities, the transport department staff should provide services quickly to the public by restricting the entry of middlemen. MLA Asif (Raju) Sait said more staff should be recruited as soon as possible to reduce the burden on the existing staff, which will help the department officials to work more actively. MLA Mahantesh Kaujalagi, transport and road safety commissioner Yogish AM, city police commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, zilla panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde, additional transport commissioner KT Halaswamy, Joint transport commissioner MP Omkareshwari, Belagavi RTO Nagesh Mundasa, Shivanand Magadum, Uday Kumar R Shetty, Laxman Chingale and Vinay Navalagatti were present.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
State to increase number of electric vehicles in phases, says Transport Minister
The State government will support the State-run transport undertakings to slowly increase the proportion of electric buses, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said in Belagavi on Friday. 'Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has already introduced a large fleet of electric buses in Bengaluru. Other STUs will be introducing electric vehicles in phases. . Electric buses will be provided in all districts. Kalayn Karnataka Road Transport Corporation will soon introduced 300 buses in Belagavi, which will include 100 electric buses,'' he said. He was speaking at the inauguration of the new office of the joint commissioner of transport and Regional Transport Office near Triveni circle in Belagavi. The office complex has been built at a cost of ₹10 crore. The Department of Transport is one of the revenue generating departments in the government. But its functioning was affected due to long standing vacancies in the department. The State government has begun the process of filling vacancies in Transport Department. Once it is completed, there will be perceptible changes, he said. He appealed to officers and staff to reduce the middle men menace in the department offices. The officers and staff of the office should work towards providing quick and efficient services to the public, he said. He urged officials to deal strictly with traffic violations like loud horns and bright lights. Public Works and District in charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi thanked Mr. Reddy for the new office complex in Belagavi and other works. 'The construction of the Belagavi city bus stand, taken up under the Smart City scheme is nearly complete. It will be inaugurated soon. The Central and State governments have shared the cost of the project equally. The automated driving path was constructed in Bailhongal at the cost of ₹5 crore. It will help train KKRTC drivers in large numbers,' he said. He demanded 500 buses for the Belagavi district and construction of more bus stands in rural areas. He said PWD would work with the Transport Department in this. Satish Jarkiholi gave some suggestions to revitalise the Transport Department. 'The department should provide advice and instructions to the public, as well as provide necessary training to vehicle drivers. Stricter rules should be implemented for issuing vehicle driving licenses and licenses should be issued. This could greatly reduce the number of accidents,' he said. He said officers should identify old vehicles and ask the owners to renew their documents. Tractor users who cause inconvenience by using loud horns and by not using tail lamps, should be fined, Satish Jarkiholi said. Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar said that Belagavi district was among the biggest in the State and needed more buses. She said that she frequently got complaints about agents harassing common people in Transport Department offices. She urged officers to extend courtesy and prompt service. She opposed criticism by the opposition against the State government that there were no development works being taken up. 'Our government has not lagged behind in development. It is taking up several development projects along with guarantee schemes,' she said. 'There is not a single example of the BJP governments in the past bringing schemes for the poor. Our opponents do not want to deliver guarantee schemes to the people, they have never done anything good for the people. They are only busy criticising our schemes. But now that our guarantee schemes have succeeded, they are copying them and using them as poll promises in Bihar and other States, she said. MLAs Asif Seth and Mahantesh Kaujalagi, Transport and Road Safety Commissioner Yogish A.M, Police Commissioner Borase Bhushan Gulabarao, Joint Commissioner of Transport S. Omkareshwari, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shinde, Additional Commissioner Halaswamy, Regional Transport Officer Nagesh Mundase, other officers like B.P. Umashankar, Purushottam, C.T. Murthy and many other officials were present.
Hans India
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Tata Motors begins delivery of 148 EVs to BMTC
Bengaluru: Tata Motors has commenced the delivery of 148 advanced Tata Starbus electric buses to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). This latest induction adds to the city's growing fleet of 921 Tata electric buses already in operation, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable urban mobility. The new buses were flagged off by Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and BMTC Managing Director Ramachandran R., IAS, alongside senior government and BMTC officials. 'These e-buses have consistently demonstrated high uptime, reliability and comfort. The new additions will help us expand our network and offer safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly travel options to the public,' said Ramachandran. The fleet will be operated and maintained by TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Ltd., a Tata Motors subsidiary, under a 12-year contract. Tata Motors stated that the buses have collectively clocked over six crore kilometres across the city, reflecting strong operational efficiency. Anand S., Vice President at Tata Motors, said, 'We are proud to support BMTC's sustainability goals with on-time delivery, advanced technology, and consistent service performance. Our Starbus EVs are designed for high-performance intra-city transit and ensure a citizen-first experience.' The low-floor, 35-seater Starbus EVs feature modern electric drivetrains, electronic stability and brake distribution systems, and integrated transport connectivity tools. With zero tailpipe emissions, the electric buses are expected to further improve Bengaluru's air quality while showcasing a replicable model for green public transport in Indian cities.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Audio guidance system for blind people launched in Mysuru buses
Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday launched the Dwani Spandana service in KSRTC city buses in Mysuru, a step aimed at empowering blind passengers to travel independently. Speaking after launching the facility, he said, "This technology enables visually impaired commuters to board buses without assistance, using special audio guidance devices. While 125 buses in Bengaluru have already been fitted with the system, it has now been introduced in 200 city buses in Mysuru. Gradually, the facility will be extended to 7,000 KSRTC buses across Karnataka." He further noted that all newly procured KSRTC buses will be equipped with the system at the manufacturing stage itself. Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait described the initiative as a progressive step in public transport: "It's encouraging that the transport department is leveraging information technology to support the visually impaired. Public transport must be accessible to everyone. The arrival of 500 pending electric buses in Shalthinur should also be expedited. DTOs and inspectors must assess public needs and improve connectivity, including introducing new routes." Anil, a blind passenger, shared his experience: "With this device, we can now board buses without seeking help. We have been trained to use it. By pressing the speaker button, we can select and board our required bus." Balakrishnan, professor at IIT Delhi, where this 'on-board' device was developed, said, "The primary objective is to enable public buses without any assistance. They faced two challenges: what is the route number of the bus, and they need to depend on others; second, they do not know where it comes from and where the door is. They need assistance to get into the bus. With this device, they need not depend on anybody." MLA GT Devegowda and Karnataka Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority vice-president Pushpa Amaranath were present.
