Bengaluru, April 12: Woes of commuters continued with state-owned buses remaining off the road for the sixth day as KSRTC and BMTC employees, demanding the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission, abstained from work.

However, there is a relief to some extent as the number of joining duty has increased and some buses started playing at various divisions.

Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who is also Minister for Transport, warned the agitating members to report to their duties or be prepared to face disciplinary action including transfer, dismissal.

Speaking to reporters Mr. Savadi said he reiterated his appeal to the employees to resume work from tomorrow as it is the Kannada New Year ‘Ugadi’ festival.

Circular regarding the release of March salary to protesting employees of North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation had its desired ‘results’ with nearly 20 percent of the striking employees, who till Saturday were incommunicado, returned to work on Sunday.

Sources in NWKRTC said that of the 3,430 buses that the corporation manages in seven districts of the Mumbai-Karnataka region, 400 vehicles hit the road till 2100 hrs. On Saturday, only 219 buses came out of the depot.

Though the government had allowed private players to operate their service from government bus stands, the occupancy was thin on the first four days of the protest. However, on Sunday the footfall at the bus stand was comparatively high.

Meanwhile, the employees union has written a letter to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa urging them to fulfill promises made earlier. However, it backed out. The letter said the union has given three months time to fully fill their demands including the 6th pay commission salary and there was no written promise on the assurance from the government.

The union urged the government to settle their demands to avoid further intensifying the agitation which entered the sixth day on Monday.



Private buses, minibusses, maxi cabs, and other passenger transport vehicles, which authorities have roped in to manage the crisis and help commuters, were seen providing services to passengers in different parts of the city and the state.

Metro trains, autos, and cabs were also being largely used for commuting within the city.

Meanwhile, intensifying their protest, employees along with their family members staged demonstrations at district and taluk centers, in front of Deputy Commissioner or Tahsildar offices Monday against the government’s stand.

Accusing the government of not paying their March salary, thereby affecting their family’s Ugadi celebrations, they said, employees who have returned to work are being paid.

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Sunday had said it has decided not to consider requests for inter-corporation transfers of employees who are instigating, threatening colleagues for a strike, and are hindering bus services, thereby causing inconvenience to the public.

It had also said that employees who have been given such transfers have been warned that it will be canceled and that they will be posted to their original place on failing to attend on duty immediately.

Citing inconvenience caused to the public and that the strike was against provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, the Labour department on Friday had issued an order banning the strike and had referred the dispute to the industrial tribunal, Bengaluru for adjudication. (UNI)