KKRTC Chairman Arun Kumar M. Y. Patil laid out bold plans for the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) at a press conference in Kalaburagi this Thursday. Marking his first year in office, Patil took the opportunity to spotlight the corporation's accomplishments while sketching out future initiatives focused on upgrading passenger services and infrastructure.
Patil disclosed that the State government has given the green light to a ₹58 crore project aimed at reconstructing the Kalaburagi Central Bus Stand. This plan, which was initially floated in the previous Budget, has the backing of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He had pledged to demolish the existing structure to pave the way for a new facility. In addition, there's a blueprint for a modern bus stand on a four-acre plot near the Ring Road in Kalaburagi. The tender process has already kicked off for a new administrative office pegged at ₹20 crore.
In terms of further infrastructure enhancements, there’s the expansion of a bus stand in Wadi, with possible construction plans on the Mini Vidhana Soudha premises in Afzalpur also on the table. The central bus stand in Vijayapura has been renamed in tribute to Veera Rani Kittur Chennamma, underscoring the corporation's dedication to preserving cultural heritage.
Turning to transport service expansion, Patil praised the State government's Shakti scheme. It has encouraged more women to use bus services. To reinforce the corporation's fleet, they are acquiring 142 city buses at a cost of ₹56 crore. Additionally, 56 premium buses are being added, including 20 AC sleeper, 20 non-AC sleeper, and 16 AC seater buses, costing ₹33.35 crore. Already, 40 of these buses are in operation.
Altogether, the corporation has been allocated 600 new buses, with 400 earmarked in the 2025-26 Budget and another 200 in the 2026-27 Budget. The procurement process is currently underway. For greater passenger ease, UPI payment facilities have been incorporated into all electronic ticketing machines (ETMs).
To boost connectivity, the Mini Kalyana Ratha service has been launched on routes connecting Vijayanagara, Ballari, Raichur, and Kalaburagi. Over the past year, bus services have reached six villages that were previously without service in the Kalaburagi, Raichur, and Yadgir districts.
On the employment side, the selection process for 16 assistant accountant roles and 300 conductor positions wrapped up in July 2026. Recruitment for an additional 163 roles is ongoing. The corporation has also secured employment for 55 dependents of deceased employees on compassionate grounds.
Employee welfare remains a focus, with internal group insurance compensation rising from ₹10 lakh to ₹12.50 lakh. A total of ₹11.72 crore has been disbursed to the dependents of 110 deceased employees. As health concerns mount, the corporation has organized cashless health screening camps for 4,440 staff members, in collaboration with the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research.
