The Karnataka State Road Transport Employees Joint Action Committee is set to begin a state-wide indefinite protest on 31 December. The demonstration aims to pressure the State government into addressing long-pending dues and fulfilling demands related to employee welfare and financial arrears.
The dues, linked to four transport corporations—Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC), and North-Western Road Transport Corporation (NWRTC)—total an estimated Rs 8,010 crore.
Key arrears include Rs 1,785 crore in pending payments for the period between January 2020 and February 2023, Rs 2,900 crore in provident funds, and Rs 325 crore towards dearness allowance (DA) for retired employees. Additionally, Rs 2,000 crore remains unpaid under the Shakti Scheme, while another Rs 1,000 crore is owed for fuel bills.
The committee has stated that the protest will not be called off until the government clears these dues. The indefinite strike is expected to impact transportation services across the state, creating challenges for commuters and daily operations.
The protest reflects growing frustration among employees of the transport sector over delayed payments and unfulfilled commitments. As the deadline approaches, the State government faces mounting pressure to resolve the financial issues affecting its transport corporations.
