During his inspection visit, the minister boarded a bus which was travelling from Hebbal to Nagashetty Halli. After requesting two tickets, he handed the conductor a Rs 100 note. To this, the conductor asked for the exact change. When the minister stated that he did not have smaller notes, the conductor allegedly told him to get off the bus if he could not provide the correct amount.
During the journey, the minister boarded a bus travelling from Hebbal to Nagashetty Halli. After requesting two tickets, he handed the conductor a Rs 100 note. The conductor asked for exact change. When the minister explained that he did not have smaller notes, the conductor allegedly told him to get off the bus if he could not provide the correct amount.
Throughout this conversation, neither the driver nor the conductor realised that they were talking to the state’s Transport Minister. Instead of revealing his identity, Byrathi Suresh quietly stepped off the bus. However, after the incident, both the driver and the conductor were suspended.
Karnataka Transport Minister @byrathi_suresh travelled incognito on 10+ BMTC buses.across Bengaluru for 2 hours wearing a mask to inspect services firsthand.
He suspended a driver and conductor after a bus failed to stop for passengers. In another bus, a conductor asked him to… pic.twitter.com/celtwAXIPG
— ChristinMathewPhilip (@ChristinMP_) July 12, 2026
Routes Covered During the Surprise Inspection
The Minister conducted the inspection between 7:10 pm and 9:10 pm, and during this time, he travelled through key areas which include Jayamahal, TV Tower, RT Nagar, CBI Road, Hebbal, Manyata Tech Park, Nagawara, Hennur, Hennur Bande, Byrathi Bande, and Geddalahalli.
The inspection was aimed at evaluating the condition and quality of Bengaluru’s public transport services from a passenger’s point of view, and he was also trying to understand what kind of issues commuters regularly face.
Auto-Rickshaw Ride Also Raises Concerns
After inspecting the bus, the minister then hired an auto-rickshaw from Nagashetty Halli, but his experience did not improve. The auto-driver’s fare meter showed Rs 30, but the driver demanded Rs 36, and he claimed that the meter would be corrected later. After questioning the extra charge, Byrathi Suresh eventually paid Rs 40 and ended his inspection journey.
Surprise Check Highlights Everyday Commuter Issues
This secret visit to understand people’s daily problems offered a real-world challenges faced by Bengaluru commuters. The minister got to know about daily-life difficulties of passengers, from ticketing disputes on BMTC buses to fare-related concerns in auto-rickshaws.
Sudeep Singh Rawat is a Copy Editor at NewsX Digital with over five years of experience in digital journalism. He covers national and international news, with a focus on politics, crime, technology, public affairs, and trending topics. Before joining NewsX Digital, he worked with Business Standard, The Sunday Guardian, and other digital media organisations. His reporting focuses on breaking news, enterprise stories, and explainers that inform readers through accurate, balanced, and context-driven journalism.
