Karnataka's four state transport corporations face ₹8,000 crore losses, salary payments at risk

Karnataka's four state-run transport corporations are reeling under cumulative losses of approximately ₹8,000 crore, Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh informed the Legislative Council. The financial strain has left the corporations struggling to pay salaries to their employees, he said.

The minister's statement in the Upper House lays bare the deepening fiscal stress across the state's public bus operators, which together form a key pillar of mass transit in Karnataka. The losses, running into thousands of crores, point to a widening gap between operational costs and revenue.

Salary payments have emerged as an immediate concern, with the corporations unable to meet their wage obligations on time. The minister did not elaborate on the specific measures being considered to address the shortfall.

The disclosure comes amid broader questions over the financial health of state transport undertakings, which have faced pressure from rising fuel and maintenance costs, competition from private operators, and pandemic-era disruptions to ridership. How the government plans to stabilise these corporations and clear the salary backlog is expected to draw further attention in the legislature.