Public transport in Karnataka ground to a halt on Tuesday as employees of state-owned transport corporations launched an indefinite strike, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the state. The strike, which defied a Karnataka High Court interim stay, was initiated to demand a wage revision effective January 1, 2024, and clearance of 38 months' salary arrears.
Bus depots in major cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, and Kalaburagi saw buses parked idle, with only a handful operating. Some rural services continued as a few drivers prioritized ferrying students to schools, according to transport department sources. To mitigate the crisis, authorities deployed trainee drivers, but the limited bus operations failed to meet the massive commuter demand.
The strike led to chaotic scenes at bus stands in cities including Chikkamagaluru, Raichur, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Hassan, Madikeri, and Shivamogga, where passengers struggled to find alternative transport. Private bus operators and cab aggregators reportedly hiked fares, capitalizing on the situation, while some Bengaluru autorickshaw drivers were accused of charging exorbitant rates.
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Despite negotiations with the Karnataka government, the unions, led by KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation president H V Anantha Subbarao, rejected the government's offer to clear only two years of arrears. "We are not satisfied. The strike will continue until our full 38 months' arrears are addressed," Subbarao declared.
The Karnataka High Court, expressing concern over the prolonged wage disputes, had issued an interim stay on Monday to prevent public hardship. However, the unions pressed forward after failed talks. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's appeal to call off the strike went unheeded, as workers demanded concrete assurances on their salary revision.
The ongoing agitation has raised concerns about its impact on daily commuters, with the government urged to resolve the deadlock swiftly to restore normalcy.
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