Buses to go off roads on July 25 as unions call stir

Bengaluru, Jul 23: All the seven unions of the state-run transport corporations (STCs) have stuck to their decision to go on an indefinite strike from Sunday midnight as talks with the government failed on Friday.

Representatives of the unions, including the KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation (KSWF) and the Akhila Karnataka Rajya Raste Sarige Noukarara Mahamandali, had a two-hour-long discussion with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy.

The leaders of the unions refused to accept Siddaramaiah's offer to enhance the quantum of hike in salary from 8% to 10%. The chief minister appealed to them to give up the strike, but the leaders did not agree.

The government had recently announced a 8% salary hike for employees of the four STCs - KSRTC, BMTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC. Terming the hike as meagre,' the unions have given a call for an indefinite strike from July 25, demanding enhancement in the hike.

The unions are demanding 35% hike in the salaries. Besides, they have listed 41 various demands including extension of medical benefits to dependents of employees, hike in daily allowance (bata) for drivers and conductors to Rs 300, increase in the repast allowance to at least Rs 100 and opening of subsidised canteen in all depots.

H V Anantha Subbarao, general secretary, KSWF, told Deccan Herald that they had no deliberate intention to cause trouble to lakhs of passengers by keeping around 23,000 buses off the road, but it was inevitable as the government did not fulfil their salary hike demand.

Subbarao said they were ready to hold talks again with the chief minister before Monday and they have told Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy to persuade Siddaramaiah for another round of talks.

Advance booking continues

The state-run transport corporations (STCs) such as the KSRTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC have not stopped advance booking of tickets for Monday, despite the strike call.

An official in the KSRTC said booking cannot be stopped because the unions have given a strike call. Amount will be refunded to the passengers in case of a strike, the official said.

Comments

these people need always high salary apart from incentive. Now they are getting good salary and incentive with other benefits like medical, subsidized food in their respective depot canteen so on. But still not happy.

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Mangaluru: Youth arrested for misleading Instagram post targeting police

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

Comments