Karnataka Minister Ordered Off BMTC Bus for Exact Change

Karnataka Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh was ordered off a public bus for not having exact change during a surprise, undercover inspection of Bengaluru's transport services on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The incident, which occurred as the minister traveled incognito to assess commuter conditions, highlighted common frustrations faced by passengers.

The minister boarded a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus traveling from Hebbal to Nagashettihalli on Saturday evening. Wearing a face mask to avoid recognition, he requested two tickets and handed the conductor a 100-rupee note. The conductor, stating he did not have sufficient change to return the balance, asked the passenger to provide the exact fare. When Suresh said he had no smaller currency, the conductor instructed him to get off the bus. The minister complied without revealing his identity.

Following the bus incident, Suresh took a short autorickshaw ride from Nagashettihalli. There, he encountered another frequent complaint: the fare meter showed 30 rupees, but the driver demanded 36, claiming the meter needed to be recalibrated. The minister eventually paid 40 rupees before concluding the ride.