Public transport across Karnataka is set to face major disruption on February 19, as employees of state-run bus corporations gear up for a statewide strike.
Staff of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), along with affiliated unions from other transport corporations, have announced plans to halt services, citing unresolved demands related to wages and service conditions.
What services will be affected?
If the strike proceeds as planned, bus operations in Bengaluru and across districts are expected to come to a standstill. This includes city services run by BMTC and intercity and interstate services operated by KSRTC and its subsidiaries.
Lakhs of daily commuters — including office-goers, students and small traders — are likely to face inconvenience. Bus depots across the state may remain non-operational, depending on the level of participation by staff.
Key demands of employees
Transport workers’ unions have been pressing for a wage revision in line with other state government employees, along with improved working conditions and pension-related benefits.
Union leaders have stated that repeated representations to the government have not yielded satisfactory results, prompting them to intensify protest measures. Talks between the unions and state authorities are reportedly ongoing, but no final agreement had been reached at the time of announcement.
Government response and contingency plans
State authorities have appealed to employees to reconsider the strike, citing the impact on the public. Officials are expected to hold last-minute discussions in an attempt to avert the shutdown.
In the event of a complete strike, the government may explore alternative arrangements, including deploying private buses or requesting limited services from available staff. However, large-scale disruption remains likely if negotiations fail.
Commuters have been advised to plan travel in advance and consider alternative modes of transport on February 19.