• The Trade Unions of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation are slated to hold a “Bengaluru Chalo” protest at Freedom Park in Bangalore during late morning hours (local time) on February 19.
• The protest seeks payment of long-pending salary arrears, implementation of wage revisions, and a push for a new four-year wage agreement plan.
• The protestors have also issued a warning of a statewide bus shutdown from February 20 if their demands are not met.

1. The slated protest will likely witness a turnout ranging from the low to mid hundreds, based on the traction of the issue and the mobilization capabilities of the protesting unions. Given the heightened sensitivities surrounding the issue and the wider dissatisfaction with the ruling Indian National Congress state government, security is likely to be bolstered in the vicinity of Freedom Park, considering the recent ruling of the Karnataka High Court against holding a protest at the aforementioned protest site.
2. There is a latent risk of localized unrest in the form of scuffles and confrontations between the police and the protesters. The authorities are likely to employ crowd control measures, including baton charges and/or temporary detention of the protesters, should the latter engage in disruptive activities such as blocking adjoining roads or involvement in vandalism. As such, localized disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular travel are expected near Freedom Park during the protest hours on February 19, as further warned by the Bangalore Traffic Police.

Those operating or residing in Bangalore over the coming hours on February 19 are advised to maintain vigilance in the vicinity of the Freedom Park due to the slated protest and related risk of unrest, while allotting for travel disruptions.