Mangaluru : Public transport services, including those of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), are likely to be hit across the state today as workers of road transport corporations are set to begin an indefinite strike from Wednesday.

Buses at KSRTC bus stand at Bejai in Mangaluru as well as other  government bus stands of the district lined up without operating. Some people with luggage are also seen at the bus stands with a hope that bus services would resume.

Drivers and conductors of road transport corporations, including KSRTC, BMTC, Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC), under the banner of Karnataka State Road Transport Employees League, have given a call for strike on wage-related issues from today.

The Karnataka government on Tuesday warned of strict action against the state transport staff and ruled out any negotiations with them, stating that most of the demands by the employees have been addressed despite financial constraints due to COVID-19.

The government also made it clear that it cannot fulfil their demand for implementation of the sixth pay commission report for the Road Transport Corporation workers. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa requested transport workers not to be adamant and join their work.

“We have fulfilled eight out of your (workers) nine demands, we have to work together for the welfare of the people. Without giving room for the government to take strict measures, drop the strike and cooperate with the administration,” he told reporters in Hubballi,

In order to avoid inconvenience to the general public due to the strike, the state government has made alternate arrangements by hiring private transport operators and seeking for deployment of more trains, Yediyurappa said.

The government also allowed the state road transport corporation to hire private buses and school buses for transportation.

Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar warned of action against those involved in any kind of instigation and those caught damaging buses and public assets in the name of a strike, saying such things will be dealt with very seriously.

Noting that COVID restrictions are in place and a notification has already been issued under the Disaster Management Act stating that people cannot gather in groups, Kumar said, if it is violated, action will be taken under the act, also IPC, police act among others.

Meanwhile, many universities including Bangalore University, Bengaluru Central University have postponed the examinations that were scheduled to be held on April 7 in the wake of the strike.