KSRTC/BMTC employees await government’s final word on wage revision

Transport staff await wage revision clarity. Minister Reddy in talks, but Bengaluru Chalo protest continues tomorrow as workers demand clear orders.

Bengaluru is bracing for a major show of strength by transport employees as final-stage talks on salary arrears and wage revision continue. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has been holding last-minute discussions to convince workers, with the government expected to promise fulfilment of their demands.

Despite assurances, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) has declared that the ‘Bengaluru Chalo’ protest will go ahead tomorrow. Employees have been asked to gather at Freedom Park, with leaders insisting that only clear government orders—not verbal promises—will end the agitation. JAC member Manjunath said, “The government’s unilateral decision is not acceptable. We should be consulted.”

The protest comes after months of negotiations. Earlier, the Chief Minister had assured employees of 26 months’ arrears, but no formal order was issued. Now, with wage revision reports finalized and orders dated 18 February 2026, employees remain sceptical, accusing the government of ‘blindfold tactics.’

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Documents reviewed show repeated references to wage revision exercises, interim committee reports, and financial figures such as ₹1,239.47, ₹718.93, ₹520.54, ₹4,900, ₹7,800, ₹1,219.23, and ₹1,271.92. These highlight the scale of arrears and revisions under discussion. Partial implementation has already been noted, with increments ranging from 30% to 80.87%, but employees demand full clarity.

The government’s challenge is balancing fiscal constraints with worker expectations. Around 8,000 employees are directly impacted, and unions argue that delays have already hurt livelihoods. The JAC has set a deadline until tomorrow evening for the government to issue binding orders. 

With large numbers expected at the Bengaluru Chalo conference, the standoff underscores the tension between promises and delivery. Whether today brings ‘good news’ depends on the government’s ability to translate assurances into official action.

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