Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, May 11: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on Tuesday May 10 held a mock funeral of its buses that were burnt during the massive garment workers’ protest last month.

This rare and unusual 'funeral' is part of the KSRTC’s two-day campaign ‘It’s My Bus’. The campaign intends to create awareness among people not to damage public property during the protests, especially state owned buses which are always first targets.

The burnt buses were displayed at Majestic bus station and also at other major bus stations in city.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy who inaugurated the campaign at the Majestic bus station, said that the KSRTC buses have become easy targets for the angry mobs in many protests. "Public should choose non-violent methods. Destroying public property is not the solution to the problems." he said.

KSRTC managing director Rajender Kumar Kataria said that routine acts of damaging the government buses should stop. "These buses were purchased from taxpayers’ money. We lost Rs 10-15 crore due to damage to the buses. When I visited the Peenya depot soon after the protest, I decided to do something to prevent such damages in the future.” he added.

Kataria said he hoped the initiative will help to prevent future damages to public property.

Artist Badal Nanjundaswamy had painted an undamaged bus as part of the campaign.