Public transit in Mysuru has been severely delayed and impacted since August 5 due to an abrupt and indefinite strike by KSRTC workers. About 60% of the services have been halted. Only 200 of the 750 buses that run every day in the Mysuru Rural division are on approved routes. Authorities brought in private buses and dispatched trainee and contract drivers.
However, travellers continue to become stuck in both rural & urban locations. The interruption has also highlighted a more serious problem: there is no reliable emergency backup system in Mysuru’s public transportation system.
Massive Service Disruption Across Rural Routes
KSRTC’s daily operations in the Mysuru Rural division have taken a massive hit. Of the usual 750 buses, only 200 are currently running. Most are covering only key or high-priority routes.
Officials confirmed that about 60% of services remain suspended. The sudden halt has caused major delays and chaos, especially in taluk areas.
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Trainee and Contract Drivers Keep Skeleton Services Afloat
KSRTC Divisional Controller (Rural), Mr. Srinivas, said that services continue only due to the efforts of 100 trainee drivers and 170 contractual drivers.
“They cannot join the strike and have reported for duty,” he noted. While their presence has prevented a total shutdown, the limited manpower has left many routes uncovered.
Private Buses Step In Amidst Emergency Meeting
To handle the crisis, the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, and Regional Transport Officers held an emergency meeting.
Following this, authorities permitted private operators to run services from the mofussil bus stand in Mysuru. Though helpful, these private buses are not enough to fill the gap.
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Intra-City Travel in Chaos: Spike in Cabs and Autos
Within Mysuru city, the strike has left passengers stranded, especially at the city bus stand. The normally busy area suddenly appears empty.
Low patronage is a problem for services to Bengaluru, especially for electric and AC buses. Demand for app-based taxi services and autorickshaws has increased.
Lack of Contingency Planning Raises Concerns
This strike has shown that Mysuru lacks a reliable contingency plan in the event that public transit is interrupted. Authorities rushed to identify solutions only after the problem surfaced.
The slow deployment of private buses and over-reliance on trainees demonstrate how unprepared the system is. This suggests that in a city with growing demand and population, better emergency transit services are required.
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Building a Resilient Public Transport System
The KSRTC strike has raised long-term issues and immediate problems. Though the current response has mitigated the effects, Mysuru must now focus on developing a strong and flexible public transit system.
