Road transport corporation employees call for ‘Bengaluru Chalo’ protest despite partial arrears release

KSRTC employees plan a 'Bengaluru Chalo' protest, demanding full wage arrears despite partial government release.

Transport corporation employees across Karnataka have announced a fresh round of agitation, intensifying pressure on the State government over pending wage revision and arrears issues.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of road transport corporation (RTC) workers’ unions has decided to go ahead with its proposed ‘Bengaluru Chalo’ march and a day-long demonstration at Freedom Park on Thursday, even as the government agreed to release part of the pending arrears and special grants.

On Wednesday, after a meeting with union representatives, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced that 26 months of salary arrears amounting to ₹1,271.92 crore would be released for officers and employees of the State’s four RTCs — KSRTC, BMTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC.

He said that based on recommendations of a one-man committee headed by retired IAS official Srinivasa Murthy, constituted to examine the demand for payment of 38 months of arrears, the government had agreed to release arrears for 14 months covering the period from January 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. A special grant of ₹718.93 crore will be released for this purpose.

“Additionally, out of the remaining 24 months of the 38-month arrears period, the government has sanctioned a further special grant of ₹552.99 crore towards 12 months of arrears for the period from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021,” he said.

Mr. Reddy also stated that orders have been issued to initiate discussions and conciliation proceedings with labour unions regarding the percentage of salary increase to be implemented for officers and employees of the RTCs with effect from April 1, 2025.