Bengaluru Hike Alert: School Transport Fees To Jump By 10-15%; Private School Feels May Increase By 20%

Bengaluru: With the sharp increase in garbage tax, water tariffs, and other utilities, Bengaluru's schools are also likely to face the brunt. As per reports, Bengaluru school transport fees could rise by 10-15%, while a 20% increase in private school fees also looms. Here's why!

Bengaluru School Transport Fees:

The school buses and vans in Bengaluru are likely to hike transport fees for schools by 10-15%. The reason is the latest increase in diesel prices by the Karnataka government to the tune of Rs 2 per litre.

Shanmugam PS, president, of Karnataka United School and Light Motor Vehicle Drivers' Union, affiliated to All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) told The New Indian Express that "Price hikes have already burdened the people. We know that the hike in fees of school buses and vans will be an additional burden on parents, we do not have any other option, but to pass on the diesel price increase to them."

He also told the news agency that prices of fees related to registration, permit, insurance and fitness certificate of vehicles, and renewal of licences and taxes among other items have gone up.

As per Shanmugam, in Bengaluru alone, there are around 15,000 school buses and vans, and the fees were fixed at approximately Rs 24,000 per year. However, that would rise by Rs 500 per month to Rs 30,000 per year.

With effect from April 1, 2025, the Karnataka government hiked its tax rate to 21.17% on diesel products, which pushed the price by Rs 2 to Rs 91.02 per litre. Earlier, the tax rate was around 18.4%.

Bengaluru Private School Fees:

As per reports, parents in Bengaluru are struggling with a consistent surge in private school fees. Now, with the surge in operation costs due to staff salaries, utility bills and more, private schools in Bengaluru could hike fees by 20%.

"A parent of a primary class student at a CBSE school has sent a complaint about book, tuition and transport fees going up. They demanded the fee before books were given. Now a private school management association is saying it will increase the fee by up to 20%. Even parents have costs to bear with. There should be a scientific reason for the hike," said BN Yoganand, state president of Karnataka Private School and College Parents Association's coordination committee, as per Times of India report.