Karnataka's commuters should be on the alert for major travel snarls on Thursday, 19 February 2026, when four state-controlled transport companies (KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC) go on strike.
Over 1.15 lakh workers are anticipated to assemble in Freedom Park, and transport unions’ Joint Action Committee has proclaimed a clear ultimatum: if the workers’ demands are not fulfilled by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, an indefinite statewide bus shut-down will be initiated on Friday, February 20.
The Conflict: Demands and Orders
The main basis of the unrest is entrenched dissatisfaction with the financial system. The transport unions are calling for:
- Salary Arrears: Clearance of around ₹1,785 crore of arrears pending over a period of 38 months (from January 1, 2020, up to February 28, 2023).
- Wage Revision: A 25% wage increase from January 1, 2024.
- Agreement Fulfilment (3 points): Setting into effect a new four-year wage agreement.
Although the government offered to increase labour cost, starting April 2026, and clear 14 months of arrears, they have refused to pay the "partial" payments, referring to the escalating cost of living and the increasing workload due to Shakti (free travel for women) being implemented successfully.
Management’s “No Work, No Pay” Remediation
To counter the protest call, the KSRTC Managing Director Akram Pasha has issued a written instruction for all staff to work as mandated. Vowing the principle of “No Work, No Pay”, the management has stated that any unauthorised absence will lead to immediate deductions and disciplinary actions.
"Under the High Court instructions, disciplinary action will be taken against employees reporting unauthorized absence. We have directed officers to prepare unit-wise lists of those who do not come for work,” the MD Akram Pasha said.
The corporation has: To avoid any affect on the public:
- All leaves are cancelled: No new leaves for February 19 are permitted outside the case of the most severe emergencies.
- Holiday Cancellations: Weekly offs for available staff have been suspended to maximize vehicle deployment.
- Police Security: In order to prevent attempts to block bus operations in the depots, the police forces have been requested to patrol the sites.
Community in Limbo
This is a 2nd attempt at a “Bengaluru Chalo” this year. One of the last protests was set for January 29 and was postponed after the sudden demise of long-standing union leader Ananth Subbarao. Now, in an act of unity, the workers say "our patience has come to a point.” It is still precarious for these day-traders, students, and other commuters venturing to Bengaluru to come to work.
While the KSRTC management promises that “maximum efforts” will be made to ensure that buses continue to function, historical experience suggests that major protests lead to some, or not all, service paralysis in urban and rural areas. Commuter Advisory: Check the statuses of the local depots before heading out on Thursday and consider alternative transport arrangements if possible.
