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Bus Services Halted Across Karnataka As KSRTC Strike Hits Bengaluru, Hubballi, Mysuru

Bus services across Karnataka have come to a standstill as KSRTC employees begin an indefinite strike over long-pending salary arrears and wage hike demands. Major cities like Bengaluru, Hubballi, and Mysuru are among the worst affected. Will the deadlock between the government and transport unions break anytime soon?

by Mahi Adlakha
Bus Services Halted Across Karnataka As KSRTC Strike Hits Bengaluru, Hubballi, Mysuru

Karnataka woke up to a silent transport grid on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. As of 6 AM, employees of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), along with those from BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC, have begun an indefinite strike, paralysing public transport in nearly every corner of the state. The government tried to avert the disruption; the High Court tried to delay it, but neither succeeded.

KSRTC Strike Causes Statewide Disruption

KSRTC Strike
Image Courtesy: rsrikanth05/Wikipedia

According to One India, the strike is rooted in a 12-point charter of demands that workers say has been ignored for far too long. At its heart, it demands 38 months of unpaid salary arrears and a 15% wage hike. For many workers, it’s not just a financial issue but a matter of dignity. A senior KSRTC employee iterated this sentiment on Monday as he said that they are not demanding luxury, and are barely asking for what they had earned. The union insists that the government’s half-measure, clearing just 14 months of dues and postponing wage discussions until after the 2024 legislative session, is insulting.

Despite fresh assurances, workers across depots had already begun staging sit-ins, refusing night shifts, and turning away buses. What added to the confusion was a Karnataka High Court directive issued the same day. Acting on petitions, including one from advocate N.P. Amrutesh, the court advised the Joint Action Committee (JAC) to defer the protest by at least a day. Union leaders, however, found the language too ambiguous to act on. They said that until they receive clarity from the legal team, the strike stands. 

Also Read: Karnataka Bakeries Halt Tea, Coffee Sales & Display ‘No UPI Signs’; Here’s Why

Most Affected Areas

From Bengaluru to Belagavi and Mysuru to Mangaluru, nearly all KSRTC operations remained suspended. The situation in Bengaluru was especially chaotic, with BMTC buses running in drastically reduced numbers, app-based cab fares surging, and traffic police scrambling to manage congestion at key metro stations and arterial roads.

This isn’t the first time Karnataka’s transport workers have protested. In past strikes, responses were mixed; this time, all four state transport bodies have walked out in lockstep. During the last agitation, the state had promised salary adjustments if fares were increased. They were, but the salaries weren’t. When officials later stated that no pay hikes would be considered until 2027, the unions said that was the final blow.

As of now, there’s no end in sight as negotiations have stalled and court intervention has failed to deter the protest. For now, legal clarity also remains pending. The only certainty is that the common commuter is paying the price, literally and figuratively, as stated by One India.

Also Read: Toll Collection On Karnataka Stretch Of Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway To Begin Soon; Here’s What It Will Cost You

The ripple effects are being felt across supply chains, hospital appointments, airport pickups, and daily wage work. And yet, on the ground, the mood among workers is one of quiet resolve. 

Cover Image Courtesy: jvcclickz/Wikipedia

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First Published: August 05, 2025 2:39 PM