CM Shivakumar lays foundation for new KSRTC bus stand in Hiriyur
Synopsis
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a new KSRTC bus station at Dharmapura, Hiriyur in Chitradurga district on 3 November 2026, with several cabinet ministers and elected representatives present, signalling a state push to upgrade rural public transport infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar laid the foundation stone for a new KSRTC bus station at Dharmapura, Hiriyur on 3 November 2026 .
The project is located in Chitradurga district , a key transit corridor in central Karnataka.
Seven cabinet ministers attended, including Ishwar Khandre , Zameer Ahmad Khan , and K.H.
Muniyappa , along with local MLAs and representatives.
Jayachandra , Karnataka government's Special Representative to Delhi, was also present.
Specific project cost, design capacity, and completion date have not yet been officially disclosed.
The new terminal is expected to improve connectivity and amenity standards for rural commuters in the Hiriyur region.
A new public-transport landmark took root in central Karnataka on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, when Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar performed the foundation stone laying — shanku-sthapane (groundbreaking ceremony) — for a brand-new KSRTC bus station at Dharmapura in Hiriyur, Chitradurga district. The ceremony marks the start of construction on a facility set to serve thousands of daily commuters in one of Karnataka's key central-district towns.
A Hiriyur milestone for KSRTC connectivity
Hiriyur, a significant town in Chitradurga district, has long been a transit junction for passengers moving between Bengaluru and the districts of central Karnataka. A modern Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) terminal here is expected to ease congestion, improve amenity standards, and strengthen rural-urban bus links across the region. The groundbreaking signals that the project has cleared administrative and funding hurdles and is now moving to the construction phase.
Ministers and MLAs converge on Dharmapura
The event drew a constellation of senior Karnataka government figures. Present alongside the Chief Minister were ministers T. Raghumurthi, K.S. Basavantappa, Ishwar Khandre, K.H. Muniyappa, Zameer Ahmad Khan, Dr. Ajay Dharmasingh, and H.C. Balakrishna, as well as Karnataka government's Delhi Special Representative T.B. Jayachandra. Local legislators and elected representatives also attended, underlining the political weight the state government is placing on district-level infrastructure delivery.
KSRTC terminal upgrades: part of a wider Karnataka push
The Hiriyur project fits into a broader pattern of Karnataka governments periodically modernising KSRTC terminals in district headquarters and smaller towns — a recognition that non-metro public transport infrastructure has historically lagged behind. Quality bus stations reduce dwell time, improve passenger safety, and can anchor local commercial activity. For rural commuters who depend entirely on state bus services, a functional modern terminal is not a luxury — it is the gateway to work, healthcare, and education.
Specific details on the project cost, design capacity, and completion timeline have not been officially disclosed. Construction milestones and the final commissioning date will be the next markers to watch.
For Hiriyur's daily bus passengers, the bricks are finally going in the ground — and that changes everything.
Point of View
But the Hiriyur KSRTC project speaks to a genuine infrastructure gap — district-level bus terminals in Karnataka have often been inadequate relative to ridership demand. The presence of seven ministers at a single district-level groundbreaking reflects the Congress government's broader strategy of demonstrating grassroots delivery ahead of future electoral cycles. Modernising KSRTC infrastructure also carries fiscal subtext: better terminals can support ancillary revenue, potentially easing the perpetual financial strain on the state bus corporation. Whether construction pace matches the ceremony's ambition will be the real test.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new KSRTC bus stand being built in Karnataka?
The new KSRTC bus station is being built at Dharmapura in Hiriyur town, Chitradurga district, central Karnataka.
Who laid the foundation stone for the Hiriyur KSRTC bus stand?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar performed the foundation stone laying ceremony on 3 November 2026.
What is KSRTC in Karnataka?
KSRTC stands for Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, the state-owned public bus operator that runs bus services and manages terminals across Karnataka.
Which ministers attended the Hiriyur KSRTC bus stand foundation ceremony?
Ministers T. Raghumurthi, K.S. Basavantappa, Ishwar Khandre, K.H. Muniyappa, Zameer Ahmad Khan, Dr. Ajay Dharmasingh, and H.C. Balakrishna attended, along with Delhi Special Representative T.B. Jayachandra.
When will the new Hiriyur KSRTC bus stand be completed?
An official completion date has not been announced yet; construction milestones will be the next indicators of the project timeline.
