The sudden halt in the services of public transport buses in Karnataka has severely affected normal life across the state with thousands of passengers stranded in different towns and cities.
Transport workers from all four road transport corporations began their indefinite strike on Tuesday morning to press for their pending demands.
Long queues, confusion and helplessness were visible in many bus terminals as passengers were struggling to find alternate ways to reach their destinations. Several travellers have also voiced frustration over the lack of communication from the officials.
#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
"We are here for the last one hour... We still don't know whether the bus will even come or not... It has caused a lot of inconvenience because it has not been planned well. No other options have been given for all the passengers who had booked tickets well in advance. Even the officials here are clueless,” a passenger told ANI news agency.
Another passenger echoed similar sentiments. “My journey is very essential. I have to go. I cannot even look for a flight or train at the last moment. Even the private buses are all full. I am totally held up, unable to do anything. It's a mess here,” he said.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: A passenger says, "We have our reservations already... No official here is properly responding... They are not even telling us if our bus has been cancelled. We have no clarity... My journey is very essential. I have to go. I cannot even look for a… https://t.co/9uAZuZa25P pic.twitter.com/gQGHqCVxi5
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2025
In Bengaluru, the government has allowed private operators to start trips from the Majestic bus terminal. Though these operators have been strictly warned against charging increased ticket prices, reports said, autorickshaw drivers are charging exorbitant fares from the passengers.
The Namma Metro has been witnessing a heavy rush since the morning as limited services by the BMTC left commuters with few options.
Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy had earlier claimed that all buses were operating normally in Bengaluru. “In Bengaluru, 100 per cent of buses are plying on the roads. In the districts, about 50 per cent of services are running and officials expect the situation to normalise by the afternoon," he had said.
Employees’ union of KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC and KKRTC decided to go ahead with the strike even as the Karnataka High Court on Monday issued an interim stay against their agitations.
