Published Aug 05, 2025 | 11:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 05, 2025 | 11:22 AM
Bus stations remain empty following the strike.
Synopsis: Employees of Karnataka’s state-run transport corporations have been on an indefinite strike after talks with the government failed. The strike has affected bus services across the state.
Employees of Karnataka’s state-run transport corporations have been on an indefinite strike from Tuesday, 5 August, after talks with the government failed on Monday. The unions remained firm in their demands for payment of 38 months’ arrears amounting to ₹1,784 crore and the implementation of a 25 percent salary hike effective from 1 January 2024.
The protest took off from 6 am Tuesday, even after the Karnataka High Court on Monday directed employee unions to halt the proposed indefinite strike.
A final round of discussions held on Monday between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, and representatives of the employees’ unions ended without resolution.
“The chief minister said that he would clear two years of arrears and asked us to give up the claim on the remaining two years’ arrears. We have not agreed to it. We need 38 months’ arrears,” KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation president HV Anantha Subbarao told reporters on Monday.
The strike has affected bus services across the state.
Passengers at the newly constructed bus stand in Hubballi were left in distress as local bus services were completely halted. While buses heading to other states continued to operate, local services remained non-functional.
Reports indicate that buses have not left the depot since Tuesday morning, leaving several passengers waiting for hours with no information about the resumption of services.
In Mysuru, the situation was slightly better due to alternative arrangements made for commuters. With only a handful of government buses available, the public has turned to private transport options, including tempo travellers, mini-tempos, cabs, and private buses.
The Mysuru Suburban Bus Stand has been a hub for private buses, which have been operating since early morning. There are also plans to operate some government buses using private drivers, officials said.
In a separate incident in Koppal district, miscreants pelted stones at a bus near Masabanchinhal in Kukkanur taluk. The bus was en route from Yelburga to Bengaluru when the attack occurred.
No injuries have been reported so far, but the incident has raised concerns about the safety of public transport during the ongoing disruptions.
Meanwhile, bus services in Koppal came to a complete halt. According to Koppal Divisional Controller Rajendra Jadhav of KKRTC, 41 buses scheduled to depart around 7 am did not operate, as none of the staff reported to duty.
The district typically runs 474 buses making 2,600 trips a day — 1,900 within the district and 700 outside. “We are calling and reaching out to the staff, but none of them are coming,” said Jadhav. With 1,900 employees spread across five units, the absence of all staff has forced the district administration to arrange 640 private vehicles, including school vans, factory transport vehicles, and maxi-cabs, to assist stranded commuters.
In Devanahalli, only a limited number of KSRTC and BMTC buses were on the roads. Very few services were operating between Devanahalli and Bengaluru or other destinations. While some drivers voluntarily operated services to places like Doddaballapur, Vijayapura, and Bengaluru, most of the government fleet remained off the roads. Passengers were seen struggling at bus stands, and the response to the strike in the area remained mixed, with some drivers and conductors choosing not to support the protest.
A complete shutdown of KSRTC services was reported in Bagalkot. Buses remained idle in depots, while many passengers were seen sleeping at the bus stand overnight. Others waited patiently with their luggage, hopeful for the resumption of services. Police have been deployed at the old bus stand to maintain order.
Public transport came to a standstill in Chitradurga as well. The strike began early Tuesday, and only two local buses operated following last-minute negotiations. The town’s bus stands wore a deserted look, leaving passengers — particularly students and rural residents — stranded. According to the depot manager, only two buses were forcibly sent out, while staff meetings continued inside the depot under police security.
The strike also severely impacted Raichur, where KSRTC buses left depots but were stopped at bus stands, with drivers refusing to proceed. Passengers, including those arriving from other states, were left stranded and confused.
In an emotional interaction with Suvarna News, conductor Ravindra Hoogar broke down: “We sold our gold to pay our children’s school fees. Our superiors say, ‘Just do your job.’ We want to work, but we also want fair wages. We voted for Congress — not just us, but our ancestors have supported Congress for generations.”
The strike, demanding better wages and working conditions, has disrupted normal life across multiple districts, with thousands of passengers affected and authorities scrambling to provide temporary transport solutions.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Anisha Reddy and Nolan Pinto.)
