NEW DELHI: Employees of Karnataka’s state-run transport corporations began an indefinite strike on Tuesday morning, disrupting public bus services across the state and causing difficulties for passengers.
Buses stopped running from 6.00 am after workers of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation ( BMTC ), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation ( KSRTC ), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) went on strike.
The strike led to long queues and confusion at bus stations, as many people were left looking for other ways to travel.
On Monday, the Karnataka high court had directed transport workers to hold off on their strike plan. But all four corporations decided to go ahead with the protest.
Why are they protesting?
The strike is being held over demands including the release of 38 months of unpaid salaries, implementation of wage revision from January 1, 2024, opposition to privatisation, end to worker harassment, and a demand that company drivers be assigned to electric buses as well.
Talks between the government and transport unions had failed before the strike. The high court had issued an interim stay on the strike on Monday, saying that a complete halt of public transport would cause hardship to the public. However, the unions have decided to go ahead with their protest.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah had urged the workers to cancel the strike. However, union leaders said the government’s offer to clear only two years of arrears was not acceptable and that there was no clear assurance on salary revision.
KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation president H V Anantha Subbarao said, as quoted by PTI, "We are not satisfied. We want full 38 months' arrears."
Buses stopped running from 6.00 am after workers of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation ( BMTC ), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation ( KSRTC ), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) went on strike.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka | People face problems as transport workers of all the four road transport corporations in the state (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC) decided to go on a statewide strike from today to press for their various demands. pic.twitter.com/ufxNImtc3E
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2025
The strike led to long queues and confusion at bus stations, as many people were left looking for other ways to travel.
On Monday, the Karnataka high court had directed transport workers to hold off on their strike plan. But all four corporations decided to go ahead with the protest.
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Why are they protesting?
The strike is being held over demands including the release of 38 months of unpaid salaries, implementation of wage revision from January 1, 2024, opposition to privatisation, end to worker harassment, and a demand that company drivers be assigned to electric buses as well.
Talks between the government and transport unions had failed before the strike. The high court had issued an interim stay on the strike on Monday, saying that a complete halt of public transport would cause hardship to the public. However, the unions have decided to go ahead with their protest.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah had urged the workers to cancel the strike. However, union leaders said the government’s offer to clear only two years of arrears was not acceptable and that there was no clear assurance on salary revision.
KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation president H V Anantha Subbarao said, as quoted by PTI, "We are not satisfied. We want full 38 months' arrears."
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