A video allegedly showing a Karnataka state-run KKRTC bus navigating a dark road with its conductor using a mobile phone torch in place of a working headlight has set off a fierce political confrontation. The footage, shared by Janata Dal (Secular) State Youth President Nikhil Kumar on social media, has gone viral, with the opposition claiming it exposes the deteriorating condition of the state’s public transport system.
Calling the visuals a “shocking state of affairs,” Nikhil Kumar accused the Congress government of allowing buses to fall into disrepair due to a severe lack of maintenance funds. He claimed that while commuters are forced to travel in buses operating under such conditions, the government has also failed to induct 4,500 electric buses allotted to BMTC under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme by the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries led by HD Kumaraswamy.
A video allegedly showing a Karnataka state-run KKRTC bus navigating a dark road with its conductor using a mobile phone torch.
According to him, despite receiving confirmation in December 2025, the Karnataka government is yet to issue the Letter of Award (LoA), bringing the deployment of the new fleet to a standstill.
He further alleged that the state has not cleared pending Shakti scheme reimbursements worth Rs 4,573 crore, starving transport corporations of funds needed for routine maintenance and repairs. Contrasting the viral bus video with the stalled electric bus rollout, Nikhil Kumar accused the government of administrative failure and negligence, saying the transport system has been pushed into an alarming state.
– Ends
Published By:
Zafar Zaidi
Published On:
Jul 6, 2026 14:10 IST
