Karnataka Assembly Opposition Leader R. Ashoka on Wednesday, 4 November accused the state's Congress government of pushing public transport corporations into financial distress by withholding ₹5,650.95 crore in dues, while simultaneously hiking bus fares by as much as 40% to mask what he called administrative failures.

The Dues Breakdown

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Ashoka itemised the pending government obligations: ₹2,943 crore owed to the Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), ₹1,306 crore to the North West Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), ₹1,019 crore to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), and ₹999 crore to the Kalyan Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC). Beyond these principal dues, the corporations also carry employee provident fund arrears of ₹2,901.53 crore and fuel dues of ₹827.37 crore, he said. Total liabilities across the corporations stood at ₹7,130.80 crore as of May 2026, including unpaid salaries, provident fund, and gratuity obligations.

Ashoka's Criticism of the Fare Hike

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader described the fare increase as 'worse than the Tughlaq regime', arguing there would have been no need to burden commuters had the government simply cleared its outstanding payments. He alleged the hike was an attempt to cover up financial mismanagement rather than a structurally justified revision. The increase, critics argue, disproportionately affects daily wage workers and lower-income commuters who depend on state-run buses as their primary mode of transport.

Operational Distress on the Ground

Ashoka alleged that the financial squeeze had pushed corporations to the edge of operational viability. He cited specific incidents, including bus steering wheels coming off, passengers being forced to push buses, and a vehicle being driven at night using a mobile phone torch as a substitute for headlights. He also claimed corporations were struggling to procure diesel and spare parts due to unpaid fuel dues.

Ashoka's Tenure and the Land Bank Claim

Recalling his time as Transport Minister, Ashoka said the corporations had recorded profits for five consecutive years under his leadership. He added that the department had purchased 1,110 acres of land using its own funds, creating a land bank now reportedly valued at around ₹10,000 crore. Transport terminals and commercial complexes had generated between ₹40–50 crore in annual rental revenue, he said.

Milk Prices and the Demand for a White Paper

Broadening his attack, Ashoka also criticised recent hikes in milk and curd prices, alleging the government had failed to fulfil its promise of increasing the incentive to milk producers while passing the financial burden on to consumers. He claimed the combined price revisions would add approximately ₹390 to a family's monthly expenditure. Accusing Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of making promises without financial backing, he demanded a white paper on the state's finances and the funds available with the Finance Department. The BJP announced statewide protests at all district headquarters, including Bengaluru, on 5 November, and urged the public to join the agitation against the fare hike.