Diesel shortage disrupts KSRTC services

Koppal : Severe diesel shortage at the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) depots in Gangavathi and Kushtagi has disrupted bus services across several routes, leaving hundreds of buses stranded at the depots for the past two to three days.

The shortage has particularly affected services to rural and remote areas, causing considerable inconvenience to passengers. Students travelling to schools and colleges, employees, workers and farmers have reportedly been forced to wait for hours at bus stops after several services were cancelled or suspended. The two depots require thousands of litres of diesel every day to operate their fleet. However, inadequate and delayed supplies from fuel companies have reportedly resulted in buses being kept off the roads.

With KSRTC services unavailable on several routes, passengers have been left with little choice but to depend on private vehicles and autorickshaws. This has increased their daily travel expenses and created additional difficulties for those who regularly depend on public transport. The diesel shortage has also triggered a political controversy. BJP workers alleged that the transport corporation was facing financial difficulties because of poor financial management by the State government and the burden of implementing guarantee schemes.

As part of their protest, BJP workers staged a demonstration in front of the Kushtagi bus stand. Carrying empty containers, they symbolically sought donations from members of the public, highlighting what they described as the government’s inability to provide even the funds required for diesel. The protestors raised slogans against the government and demanded immediate action to resolve the fuel shortage.