Bus operations across Karnataka could face major disruption from May 20 as transport employees’ unions prepare to launch an indefinite strike following the collapse of conciliation talks held on Monday.
The discussions, organised by the labour commissioner, involved representatives from the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of transport trade unions along with officials from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). However, the meeting ended without any agreement being reached between the two sides.
Bus Strike Likely To Proceed
According to a report in The Times Of India, following the failed negotiations, office-bearers of the JAC indicated that the proposed statewide strike would continue as planned unless the state government responds to employees’ demands by Tuesday.
Union representatives have urged the chief minister to step in and resolve the dispute at the earliest in order to avoid disruption of public transport services across the state.
The unions are demanding a 25% salary revision with retrospective effect from January 1, 2024. In contrast, the state government is said to have proposed a 12.5% salary hike from April 1, 2025, though the offer has not been accepted by the employees’ unions.
Bengaluru And Intercity Travel Likely To Be Affected
If the agitation continues for an extended period, a major disruption in public transport services is expected across Karnataka, likely forcing more commuters to depend on autos, cabs, private vehicles and bike taxis. This could add pressure on fares, road traffic and Bengaluru’s Metro network.
More than 1.25 lakh employees from Karnataka’s four state-run transport corporations are expected to participate in the strike, potentially affecting a significant portion of bus operations across the state. The impact is likely to be most severe in Bengaluru, where lakhs of passengers rely on BMTC services every day for office commutes, college travel and routine transportation. Intercity bus routes connecting Bengaluru with Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru, Shivamogga and Kalaburagi may also witness major disruptions if the strike proceeds.
BMTC currently operates more than 7,000 buses, including electric vehicles, and caters to nearly 35.8 lakh passengers daily, making it one of the country’s busiest urban transport networks.
Although Namma Metro has expanded rapidly in recent years, its daily passenger capacity remains significantly lower than BMTC’s ridership. Even a temporary suspension of bus services could leave millions of commuters searching for alternative modes of transport.
Longer queues at Metro stations, overcrowded trains during peak hours and increased waiting times at interchange points are also expected if bus operations come to a halt. Stations such as Majestic, Baiyappanahalli and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda are likely to witness the heaviest rush.
However, Metro connectivity still does not extend to several residential neighbourhoods and outer suburban areas, limiting its ability to fully replace BMTC services. Many commuters continue to depend on buses for first- and last-mile connectivity to Metro stations.
As a result, even Metro users may face increased travel expenses, with greater reliance on autos, cabs and bike taxis to complete their journeys. Transport experts also warn that reduced bus operations could lead to higher fuel consumption across Bengaluru, as thousands of private vehicles would replace the city’s high-capacity public bus network.
Disagreement Over Wage Revision Date
During the conciliation meeting, union representatives reportedly maintained that they were unwilling to compromise on the implementation date of the revised pay structure. According to union leaders, the salary revision must be made effective from January 1, 2024.
At the same time, indications were given that negotiations could still take place regarding the percentage of the wage increase. The unions have also demanded that pending salary arrears be cleared without any deductions.
It was stated by JAC leaders that no concrete proposal had yet been received from the management of the transport corporations. A request has reportedly been made to the chief minister to hold direct talks with trade union representatives in an attempt to settle the dispute.
The unions further indicated that their next course of action would depend on the response received from the state government, though they remain firm on proceeding with the strike for now.
Corporations Warn Against Strike
Meanwhile, officials from the transport corporations said another round of discussions has been scheduled for May 25.
KSRTC Managing Director Akram Pasha reportedly stated that trade unions cannot legally proceed with a strike while conciliation proceedings are underway. It was also pointed out that the chief minister has already conducted four rounds of discussions with union representatives, while Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has separately held five meetings on the issue.
Corporation officials warned that action could be initiated if employees go ahead with the proposed strike despite ongoing negotiations.
Key Issues Behind The Deadlock
- Transport unions are demanding a 25% wage hike effective January 1, 2024
- The state government has reportedly offered a 12.5% increase from April 1, 2025
- Talks between unions and transport corporations ended without a resolution
The Joint Action Committee has warned that the indefinite strike will begin from May 20 unless the government intervenes immediately. If the strike proceeds, bus services operated by KSRTC, BMTC and other state-run transport corporations are expected to be severely affected across Karnataka.
