Karnataka's four state-run transport corporations are staring at a combined debt of ₹9,723.99 crore, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blaming the Congress government's flagship Shakti scheme for the financial deterioration. R. Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, on Wednesday alleged that the state government had failed to reimburse the corporations for free bus travel provided to women under the scheme, leaving them unable to meet basic operational costs.

The Debt Breakdown

According to figures cited by Ashoka, the government owes the transport corporations ₹5,651.24 crore in pending Shakti scheme reimbursements. The four corporations have individually accumulated significant outstanding liabilities: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) at ₹2,183.49 crore, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) at ₹1,068.90 crore, Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) at ₹1,045.95 crore, and North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) at ₹1,352.90 crore.

Mounting Operational Liabilities

Beyond loan obligations, Ashoka alleged the corporations are burdened by ₹2,658.18 crore in unpaid employees' provident fund dues, ₹538.18 crore owed to retired employees, and ₹1,053.88 crore in pending diesel payments. He claimed the corporations currently lack funds to purchase diesel, procure urgent spare parts, or pay staff salaries and retirement benefits.

'Transport corporations do not have money to purchase diesel, procure urgent spare parts or pay salaries and retirement benefits to employees,' Ashoka alleged in his statement.

BJP Targets CM and Transport Minister

Ashoka directed sharp criticism at Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh, accusing them of failing to address the crisis. He alleged that the Shakti scheme — which provides free bus travel to women across Karnataka — had 'broken the backbone' of the state's public transport system, while the government had not followed through on the financial commitments the scheme entails.

Targeting Suresh specifically, Ashoka accused the minister of prioritising publicity over governance. 'Stop the photo-shoot drama of making sudden visits to bus stands and posing before cameras. Transport corporations cannot be financially strengthened through photographs; they need the money that the government owes them,' he said.

Smart Cards and Protest Warning

Ashoka also criticised the Congress government's delay in rolling out smart cards for public transport users, alleging repeated assurances without concrete follow-through. He demanded the immediate release of the ₹5,651 crore in pending reimbursements, warning that the BJP would launch a formal protest in support of transport employees if the government failed to act. 'Do not turn the families of transport employees into paupers for your political interests,' he said.

This comes amid broader scrutiny of the Shakti scheme's fiscal impact, with the Congress government yet to publicly respond to the specific figures cited by the opposition. How the state government addresses the reimbursement backlog will be closely watched by both transport employees and commuters across Karnataka.