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Public outrage over tobacco advertisements on KSRTC buses prompts strict action, as the corporation begins organised removal and warns against damage to public property.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has announced strict legal action against individuals found removing advertisements from its buses and bus shelters without permission, especially in cases where such actions lead to damage to public property.
This decision comes amid heightened public anger over advertisements promoting tobacco products displayed on KSRTC buses and shelters. In several areas, citizens took matters into their own hands and removed these posters. However, officials said that in many incidents, people also pulled down unrelated advertisements, leading to damage to buses and shelters.
Responding to the situation, KSRTC has instructed all its divisions to ensure that tobacco-related advertisements are removed in an organised and systematic manner. This action follows clear instructions from Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who has set a deadline of February 15 to completely eliminate any direct or indirect promotion of tobacco products on public transport across Karnataka.
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KSRTC Managing Director Akram Pasha, in a circular issued on February 7, directed divisional heads to file first information reports (FIRs) at local police stations whenever unauthorised poster removal leads to damage. The circular clearly states that strict legal action must be taken to prevent such incidents from repeating.
Officials clarified that the corporation has already begun removing tobacco advertisements through official channels. At the same time, they stressed that no individual has the authority to remove posters independently, as it could result in damage and safety risks.
In addition to removing the banned advertisements, KSRTC divisions have been asked to conduct follow-up inspections and submit compliance reports to the head office by February 18. These reports must detail the steps taken to ensure that no tobacco-promoting advertisements remain on buses or at shelters.
