Bus Strike on August 5: What’s open and what’s closed
Bus Strike: In Karnataka, a statewide indefinite bus strike has been called by the Joint Action Committee of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) Employees’ Unions, set to begin at 6:00 AM on August 5, 2025. Bus Strike on August 5: Whats open and whats closed.
This strike is expected to severely impact public transport across the state, including services provided by KSRTC, BMTC, and other state-run transport corporations.
What is Closed/Affected:
State-run bus services: All four state-run transport corporations (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC) are expected to halt operations. Union leaders have stated that “not a single bus will operate on the roads.”
What is Open:
Private buses: The Transport Department has held meetings with private bus operators to arrange for them to run services to help mitigate the disruption. Private bus associations have agreed to cooperate but have put forth demands to the government, including a 15-day exemption from road tax and adequate security to protect their vehicles and staff.
Other services: Schools, colleges, and other public and private establishments are expected to remain open. However, their functioning may be affected by the lack of public transportation, and commuters may face significant inconvenience.
Context of the Strike:
The strike is in protest of the government’s “failure” to meet long-pending demands, which include:
Payment of approximately Rs 1,785 crore in wage arrears for a 38-month period from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2023.
A 25% pay hike for employees, effective from January 1, 2024.
The government has countered these demands, stating that a wage revision was already implemented in 2023 and the next one is due in 2027.
It has also invoked the Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prohibit strikes by transport employees until December 31, 2025. Despite this, union leaders have stated they are prepared to face the consequences of the ESMA.
A crucial meeting between the Chief Minister and union leaders is expected to take place on August 4, which could be a last-ditch effort to avert the strike.
