No change, get down, Karnataka minister's surprise bus check exposes lapses

Travelling undercover, Karnataka Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh was asked to get off a BMTC bus after offering a Rs 100 note without exact change. The episode, followed by an autorickshaw fare dispute, mirrored everyday commuter complaints in Bengaluru.

In Short

• Minister witnessed service lapses including a bus not stopping at a designated stop
• Faced conductor refusing ticket sale due to lack of change
• Minister intervened in auto fare dispute and promised more surprise checks

Karnataka’s Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh went undercover on Bengaluru's BMTC buses on Saturday night, blending in as an ordinary commuter to experience the city's public transport system firsthand. What began as a routine bus journey quickly turned into a dramatic reality check, exposing service lapses that led to immediate disciplinary action.

Travelling incognito for nearly two hours across more than 10 BMTC buses, the minister witnessed several issues that regular commuters often complain about. The most serious incident occurred when one BMTC bus allegedly failed to stop at the Fun World bus stop despite a passenger signalling to get down. Acting on the spot, Suresh ordered the suspension of both the driver and conductor.

The undercover inspection also put the minister in the middle of a familiar commuter grievance. While travelling on a Hebbal-Nagashettyhalli route bus, he reportedly handed the conductor a Rs 100 note to buy tickets.

The conductor, citing a lack of change, allegedly asked him to get off the bus instead of issuing tickets, giving the minister a firsthand experience of a problem faced daily by many passengers.

The inspection did not end with the bus ride. After getting off at Nagashettyhalli, Suresh intervened in a dispute involving an auto-rickshaw driver who allegedly demanded Rs 36 even though the fare meter displayed Rs 30.

Calling the exercise a reality check, the Transport Minister said surprise inspections would continue across Bengaluru to strengthen accountability, enforce discipline among transport staff and improve the commuting experience for passengers. The undercover operation signals a tougher approach by the Karnataka government towards ensuring better standards in the city's public transport system.

- Ends