Recently, a routine journey took on a confusion-filled and hotly disputed air on the Hubballi-Haveri highway after an KSRTC driver chose to stop a bus loaded with passengers in the middle of the road. The driver stopped the vehicle to perform Namaz, with dozens of passengers stranded on a high-speed highway, causing serious problems with this vehicle, especially regarding safety and misuse of public duty.
There was a crowded bus between Hubballi and Haveri, which was full of commuters heading to their destination. Without any technical hitch or scheduled stop, the driver suddenly pulled the vehicle over to the side of the highway. The driver said he exited the bus to prepare to pray, passengers reported. The bus conductor was said to have been a silent spectator during this time, notifying the bewildered passengers and doing nothing to encourage the driver to focus on the journey.
The Reactions of Passengers: Fear and Puzzles
The unexpected stop on a busy highway made passengers uncomfortable. A stationary bus by a shoulder or road on a freeway in a state that moves fast creates a critical risk of collision.
- Puzzled commuters: Several passengers asked if the delay was mechanical.
- Security Concerns: Some travelers said they feared that being stranded on a highway, without a solid explanation, would be unsafe. Outcry:
- The news broke: Videos of the incident and statements from its participants have circulated, and many of the public have criticized the driver for preferring personal religious observances to the duty of his professional duties to the state and the tax-paying public.
A KSRTC driver halted a moving bus full of people on the highway between Hubballi and Haveri. He stopped so he could do namaz in the middle of the road.
— Tathvam-asi (@tathvamasi6) January 6, 2026
The conductor watched without saying anything.
Passengers were afraid, puzzled, and stuck.
Islamists are taking over,… pic.twitter.com/tkA9P6onWC
The Socio-Political Debate
The incident has soon grown beyond a mere “lag” and into a wider socio-political debate in Karnataka. Critics and social media users have cited this as a symptom of a new cultural paradigm where public rules have been circumvented. Detractors of this administration insist that the events are the result of a political atmosphere that emboldens a special group of people while the masses (and the majority people alike) now suffer the consequences of severed public services.
The "silent" posture of officials is one that many have expressed as one that reflects a larger systemic dysfunction in the government-directed agencies: how they enforce discipline in their institutions.
KSRTC Response Awaited
The KSRTC has strict guidelines for unauthorized stops and rules about its staff behavior when on duty, but it remains to be seen in this case what will happen. Passengers expect a complete investigation to ensure public transport remains neutral, speedy and safe not only for those who are particular, but for everyone concerned.
