Bengaluru: Finally, the employees of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) have called off their strike on Wednesday after the State Government agreed to hike the salaries of the protesting staff by 12.5 percent.

“The strike has been called off, we have agreed to 12.5 per cent,” a union leader confirmed.

Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday had said that the KSRTC bus strike should be called off today. "I will convey their (KSRTC staff) demands to the Karnataka CM," he added.

Around 150 buses were damaged in stone pelting allegedly by sections of agitators reported in Hassan, Bengaluru, Ramanagara, Belagavi, Shivamogga, Koppal and Chikkamagaluru, sources said.

Unions had initially asked for a 35 per cent hike and then said that they were open to negotiating this amount further in talks.

The government reportedly incurred a loss of Rs 51 crore in the three days of protest, which is said to be the longest strike in the history of Karnataka. 

With the 12.5 percent hike, the government is going to have an additional burden of Rs 2,800 crore over the next four years.

Bus services across the city and State are expected to resume from Wednesday night.