Karnataka bandh: KSRTC bus strike called off as state government announces 12.5% pay hike

Bengaluru: Finally, the employees of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) have called off their strike on Wednesday.

The strike was called off after the state government assured workers of 12.5% pay hike.

Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday had said that the KSRTC bus strike should be called off today.

"I will convey their (KSRTC staff) demands to the Karnataka CM," Ramalinga Reddy, Karnataka Transport Minister, had added.

Earlier, on Monday, employees of state-owned Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had launched an indefinite strike to press for their salary hike demand, affecting normal life across the state including the IT capital Bengaluru.

Around 150 buses were damaged in stone pelting allegedly by sections of agitators reported in Hassan, Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Belagavi, Shivamogga, Koppal and Chikkamagaluru, police said.

Office goers, patients and passengers had to bear the brunt with no buses plying on roads in Bengaluru, as also elsewhere in the state.

KSRTC bus strike

Over one lakh employees of four state transport corporations are on strike with around 41 demands, prominent among them being a hike in salaries.