No change: Conductor asks Karnataka minister to get off bus during surprise check

KARNATAK, JULY 12 : What began as a surprise inspection turned into a reality check for Karnataka Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh, who was asked to get off a BMTC bus after the conductor found he did not have the exact fare. Travelling incognito in Bengaluru on Saturday, the minister experienced firsthand the difficulties faced by daily commuters.

Travelling with a face mask for nearly two hours across more than 10 BMTC buses, the minister witnessed several issues that regular commuters often complain about. The most serious incident occurred when one BMTC bus allegedly failed to stop at the Fun World bus stop despite a passenger signalling to get down. Acting on the spot, Suresh ordered the suspension of both the driver and conductor.

The undercover inspection also put the minister in the middle of a familiar commuter grievance. While travelling on a Hebbal-Nagashettyhalli route bus, he reportedly handed the conductor a Rs 100 note to buy tickets.

The conductor, citing a lack of change, asked him to get off the bus instead of issuing tickets, giving the minister a firsthand experience of a problem faced daily by many passengers.

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The inspection did not end with the bus ride. After getting off at Nagashettyhalli, Suresh intervened in a dispute involving an auto-rickshaw driver who allegedly demanded Rs 36 even though the fare meter displayed Rs 30.

Calling the exercise a reality check, the Transport Minister said surprise inspections would continue across Bengaluru to strengthen accountability, enforce discipline among transport staff and improve the commuting experience for passengers. The undercover operation signals a tougher approach by the Karnataka government towards ensuring better standards in the city’s public transport system.

-PTI