Bangalore, Aug 11 (IANS) Karnataka Saturday reduced annual bus pass rates for students by up to Rs. 200, a step which will benefit nearly 1.5 million students.

The rates are being reduced with immediate effect in view of the drought in the state and the general rise in prices, Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister R. Ashoka told reporters here

He said over 1.46 million students - school to college - who buy passes will benefit from the move.

The move will cost the state road transport corporations Rs.200 million a year, Ashoka said.

Degree and post-graduate students will now pay Rs.1,100 instead of Rs. 1,320 for their annual pass. For evening college students, the pass will cost Rs.1,480 as against Rs.1,680.

Students of diploma courses, industrial training institutes and Bachelor of Education will pay Rs.1,150 instead Rs 1,350.

For high school girl students, the pass will now cost Rs.400 instead of Rs.525 while the boys will pay Rs.600 in place of Rs.700, Ashoka said.

The state provides free bus passes to students of first standard to seventh standard, he pointed out.

Another cheerful development for the students is that they can use the passes on holidays as well. Till now the passes were not valid for travel on Sundays and other holidays for schools and colleges.