JOIN USKarnataka govt pegs loss at Rs 152 crore due to transport employees stir
As many as 60 buses belonging to the four state road transport corporations (RTC) have been damaged since April 7, when the workers began their strike, causing losses to the tune of Rs 152 crore.
Officials on Wednesday released data of damage suffered by the RTCs. The KSRTC suffered the most with 34 buses having their windshields, window and rear glasses broken.
The KSRTC said a driver and a conductor who were injured after stones were pelted at the vehicle near Tumakuru, are being treated in a government hospital. In another incident, a driver of a bus near Kolar was doused in petrol. As many as 34 cases involving 121 employees have been registered.
The NEKRTC reported damage to 20 buses, followed by BMTC and NWKRTC both of which reported damage to three buses each.
The data was released a day after Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa instructed officials to initiate stringent action against miscreants damaging public property and also take steps to ensure employees on strike return to work.
Meanwhile, the managements of the four corporations managed to run 3,402 buses. In addition, 11,330 private buses operated from the government bus stations.
Staff in no mood to relent
Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, honorary president of State Road Transport Employees League, said the strike will continue on Thursday.
He said the RTC workers will stage a candlelight protest on Thursday and will approach all the MLAs to urge them to raise their issue at the government-level.
“We have not tried to disrupt alternative services being provided by the government but we continue to request the government to consider our demands,” he said, appealing to the workers not to give up due to fear of suspension or dismissal.