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Time of India
05-08-2025
- Time of India
Karnataka bus strike leaves several long-distance commuters in lurch
Bengaluru: During the 10-hour shutdown, most districts bore the brunt of the transport strike, with Kalyana Karnataka region witnessing just 30% of services in operation. Or, two of three buses were not plying in large swathes of this cluster. Employees of state-owned road transport corporations launched an indefinite bus strike Tuesday, demanding payment of 38 months' pending arrears and a wage hike. The strike was subsequently suspended by late afternoon after the Karnataka high court stepped for the second time in 24 hours, this time, declaring the shutdown illegal and holding striking employees in contempt. The Majestic bus stand — the nerve centre for those travelling out of Bengaluru — wore a new look since early Tuesday: Private buses driving into bus bays, a no-go area otherwise. With KSRTC operating barely 58% of its fleet, passengers were stranded without access to long-distance buses. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru To bail out the passengers, regional transport offices deployed maxicabs and private buses to help them reach their destinations. Many who reached the terminal unaware of the strike were left waiting for buses to Mangaluru, Shivamogga, Hassan, Hubballi, Davanagere and other destinations. Even those who booked tickets online faced difficulties. Prasad Kumar, a stranded passenger, said: "We booked tickets online to travel to Mangaluru, but received no cancellation message. We came to know about the non-availability of the bus only after arriving at the terminal. We had no option but to take a private bus." Fear of suspension? Employees fall in line Thousands of transport employees were caught in a pincer, with the govt and the high court calling the strike illegal and trade unions struggling to get the govt to blink on salary arrears and revision hanging fire for several years. HV Ananth Subba Rao, president of KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation, alleged the state govt showed indifference to their long-pending demands. "For over a year, we have been demanding that the govt clear 38 months' arrears. The CM agreed to clearing just 14 months'. This is not acceptable," he said. Cash-strapped road transport corporations are estimated to require Rs 1,800 crore to clear the 38 months' arrears. Many drivers and conductors expressed frustration at the delay. Their query is simple and straight: If the state could spend Rs 13,000 crore on Shakti (free bus travel) scheme, couldn't it release Rs 1,800 crore to pay off arrears. "We worked day in and day out during the pandemic and after the Shakti scheme. It's distressing that our rightful arrears aren't paid," some of them said. A driver and a conductor on BMTC's Majestic-HAL route said: "I wanted to join the strike, but I was scared. In 2021, I was wrongly booked for protesting though I was home, unwell. I lost my job and stayed jobless for two years. With kids to raise and to pay Rs 12,000 rent, it was a struggle. I got my job back only because of a high court order. I do support the strike, but I can't state so openly. We're being made to report a day in advance to ensure we don't skip duty. We work just to survive — even that's being denied. Suspension is the biggest fear. What do we do if our only livelihood is taken away?" Another driver on Halasuru route said they were reporting to work out of respect for the court and fear (of losing the only job they have). "If we're not paid properly, how do we survive?" he asked. How BMTC ducked the strike blow With the dust of the 2021 strike refusing to die down, Tuesday's strike had minimal impact on BMTC's city operations, although services to the outskirts were affected. Four years ago, about 4,000 employees reportedly faced action for joining a strike. BMTC operated 1,500 electric buses managed by private operators. By 4pm when the strike was suspended, BMTC had completed 6,010 out of 6,014 schedules for the day, nearly netting a 100% rate. The bitter experience of the 15-day strike in April 2021 refuses to go away. A driver said: "Many employees spent 2-3 years without a job due to disciplinary action. They feared joining the strike (this time) would invite more trouble. Also, there's no unity among unions. They could have waited for a day — as per the court's order — for clarity. This strike didn't achieve any major goal." City bus services operated by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation were partially affected during morning hours. According to BMTC officials, 3,040 out of 3,121 scheduled services were operational as of 9am. Services from Majestic bus stand, including most night-halt buses and general shift schedules, operated without any hitch.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Amid poor footfall, Bengaluru's underground AC market business dips 50%
Bengaluru: Krishnadevaraya Palike Bazaar in Vijayanagar, south India's much-hyped first air-conditioned underground market that was opened in Aug last year, is limping towards its first anniversary with little to show. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The market has turned into a damp squib for vendors, who said business is down by at least 50%. Vendors complained of poor footfall, citing factors such as unallocated shops and ongoing whitetopping work near the entrance. Disheartened and left with mounting losses, many vendors who had set up shops with high hopes are now leaving. Moreover, BBMP is yet to finalise the list of vendors. Prasad Kumar, a 33-year-old vendor handling his family's 20-year-old business in the area, said, "I started selling puja supplies at the bazaar since Ugadi. Previously, I would make at least Rs 1,000 a day. Now, I barely earn Rs 100. I waited six months hoping things would get better. But I set up my stand on the road now, while I keep the stock in the market. We came here hoping for a fresh start, but with almost no customers and most of the shops shut, it's just not working. " Chandraiah, a daily wager who works at a nearby store, said, "There are barely any customers. Most people don't even know there's a market underground." Srinivas N, a vendor, echoed similar grievance. "I have been selling fruits here for the past 15 years but never saw such poor business. The business is down by 40% since we were allotted shops in the bazaar. But I have no alternative either," he said. Abdul Riyaz, a fruit seller in the area for 12 years, said, "Business is down by at least 50%. The white-topping work outside has made things worse. Customers can't access the market easily. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Unallocated shops are also a hurdle, as customers are hesitant to enter the underground market. We asked officials about shop allocations but haven't heard from them yet." Gopi Naidu, president of Vijayanagar vegetables vendors' association, said, "Out of 78 members, only 50 received allotments. It's true that business is down, but we're told tenders will be issued soon." BBMP officials told TOI tenders haven't been issued as they are waiting for senior officials for the process to begin. Meanwhile, Vijayanagar MLA M Krishnappa, who gave permission for 50 vendors, said tenders will be issued in the next 15 days. The Rs 13-crore market, with 79 shops, two escalators, a lift, sensor-enabled doors and 31 ACs was pitched as a modern solution to street vending issues. It was inaugurated by chief minister Siddaramaiah, who called it a first-of-its-kind project in south India and a model for other parts of Bengaluru. During inauguration, officials and politicians had said it would protect vendors from rain, sun and evictions. The market work started in 2017 and took almost seven years for completion.
Hans India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana assembly Speaker Distributes Indiramma House Proceedings in Vikarabad
The Speaker of the Telangana State Legislative Assembly and Vikarabad MLA, Shri Gaddam Prasad Kumar, has presented proceedings to 613 beneficiaries of the Indiramma House scheme at the Vikarabad MLA Camp Office. This initiative aims to provide housing for the underprivileged in both Vikarabad town and mandal. In attendance were District Collector Prateek Jain, Additional Collector Sudhir, various public representatives, officials, and the beneficiaries themselves. The Speaker allocated a total of 359 provisions for Vikarabad town and 254 for the surrounding mandal. During the distribution, Speaker Prasad Kumar extended his best wishes to the female beneficiaries and highlighted the legacy of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who aimed to provide shelter for the poor. He noted that the current government, led by Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy, is committed to similar objectives, ensuring that Indiramma Houses are accessible to those in need. Prasad Kumar urged beneficiaries to commence construction immediately, emphasising that funding would be transferred in four installments directly to their bank accounts, eliminating middlemen from the process. He explained the disbursement structure, which includes one lakh rupees after each significant stage of construction. This year, the Telangana government has allocated ₹22,500 crores for the construction of 450,000 houses, with each constituency set to receive a specific quota, including 7,000 houses earmarked for Vikarabad. The Speaker lamented the financial constraints resulting from a significant debt inherited from the previous administration, which has impeded the allocation of immediate housing solutions. He condemned the previous government's failures, which he described as a "government of words" and praised the current administration as one of action. Highlighting various welfare schemes, he mentioned the distribution of fine rice to 90 lakh families, loan waivers for 2.5 million farmers, and free electricity for low-income households. Additionally, he reported that ₹1,000 crores would soon be disbursed to farmers in support of monsoon agriculture. Prasad Kumar reaffirmed his commitment to developing Vikarabad, which he stated had regressed in the previous decade, and outlined ambitious plans for infrastructure, including CC road construction and the establishment of industrial parks. He also disclosed a significant investment to transform Ananthagiri into a major tourist destination. Concluding his remarks, he warned the public against the misleading statements of the former ruling party, reinforcing the need for accountability in governance. Delete Edit
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- The Hindu
15 held across Telangana for circulating child sexual abuse material
A total of 15 habitual offenders involved in digital circulation of child sexual abuse material (CSEAM) were arrested by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB). The accused The accused were identified as 24-year-old Mir Zakir Mohiuddin Ali Khan from Charminar; 30-year-old Prasad Kumar from Secunderabad; 23-year-old Syed Faheem Uddin, also from Charminar; 23-year-old Guramm Mahesh from Atmakur in Yadadri district; and 25-year-old Mohd Baseer Ahmed Quraishi from Mallepally. Others include 29-year-old Shaik Ameer, 25-year-old Silmula Marteen and 31-year-old Palancha Sandeep, all from Nizamabad; 50-year-old Battula Anjaneyulu, 29-year-old A. Siba Dora, and 28-year-old Md Jalal Uddin, all from Karimnagar; 30-year-old Imran Mohammed, from Hanumakonda; 19-year-old Siddhartha, from Korutla, Jagtial; 20-year-old Errola Shiva, from Saroornagar and 19-year-old Abed Alam Khan from Qutbullapur. The arrests were made during a coordinated State-wide operation conducted on Wednesday (June 18, 2025) by the bureau's specialised Child Protection Unit (CPU), which has been monitoring habitual offenders engaged in the uploading, storage and distribution of exploitative content involving minors. The arrested individuals were picked up from multiple districts including Hyderabad, Yadadri, Karimnagar, Warangal, Jagtial and Jagadgirigutta. All 15 were found to be repeat offenders, linked to at least 57 cyber tipline complaints. The operation resulted in 34 First Information Reports being registered under the IT Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, including 17 cases taken up by TGCSB's Cyber Crime Police Stations (CCPS). The CSEAM content recovered in the operation primarily involved foreign victims, with children aged between 6 and 14 years. Nearly 90% of the content pertained to girls. Most of the accused belong to working- and middle-class backgrounds, officials said. Social media patrolling and dark web crawling TGCSB Director Shikha Goel said the bureau had also blocked nearly 200 websites linked to CSEAM material as part of the operation. She explained that multiple methods are being used to track down such activity. 'One is the tipline analysis. The bureau is also involved in in-house social media patrolling and dark web crawling to identify the accused involved in sharing such content,' Ms. Goel said. The investigation, she added, is still ongoing to identify the victims, trace the origin of the content and determine whether the accused were involved in its creation. 'We are suspecting that the accused could have downloaded the content from either open platforms or purchased it on dark web. However, we are also investigating to identify the source of the content to see if they were involved in its creation,' she noted. Action against social media companies The official also hinted that action will be taken against social media companies. 'Social media platforms are expected to carry out due diligence and block the users who are sharing such content. In this case, action will be taken against the social media platforms where the content was traced.' She further stressed the need for stricter norms to be enforced by platform operators to ensure timely action against those circulating such material. The officer also warned that even browsing such material is a punishable offence and will attract action by the police.
Hans India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Govt plans industrial parks in every constituency
Hyderabad: In an effort to further industrialize Telangana, State IT and Industries Minister Sridhar Babu announced that industrial parks adhering to international standards will be established in every constituency. These parks will focus on promoting the establishment of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with a particular emphasis on encouraging young entrepreneurs from Telangana. On Tuesday, Minister Sridhar Babu laid the foundation stone for the 'Mobility Valley Park,' to be developed under the aegis of TGIIC at Yenkathla village in Mominpetmandal in Vikarabad district, with an investment of Rs44.3 crore. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the park, spread over 862 acres, is expected to generate employment for nearly 10,000 youth. He emphasized that industrial development should not be confined to Hyderabad alone and that the government is actively encouraging industrialists to invest across various regions of the state. The government remains fully committed to supporting MSMEs and has introduced a dedicated policy aimed at strengthening this sector. Sridhar Babu also addressed ongoing misinformation campaigns against the government, stating that while many industrialists are showing interest in investing in Telangana, some vested interests are deliberately spreading false propaganda. He urged such elements to refrain from obstructing the State's progress. The event was attended by Speaker Prasad Kumar, Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, MLC Mahender Reddy, MLAs Rammohan Reddy, Manohar Reddy and TGIIC Chairperson Nirmala Jagga Reddy, among others.
