For most people, spending a few years at one job feels like an achievement. Joseph Machado spent 34.
On May 30, 2026, Machado pulled the handbrake for the last time as a driver with Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, closing a career that began long before expressways and AC sleepers became common. Colleagues, passengers, and well-wishers gathered in Mumbai to felicitate the man who, for years, was the familiar face behind the wheel of the Mumbai-Mangalore route.
Machado began his KSRTC journey in the era of non-AC, heavy-steering buses. He learned the highways when halts were frequent and ghats were unforgiving. In 2002 he upgraded his skills and moved to Volvo buses, becoming one of the early KSRTC drivers trusted with the premium fleet. For over two decades after, he handled long-distance night services with the same calm discipline he brought on day one.
Ask regulars on the Mumbai-Mangalore line and the name that comes up is Joseph. Vineet Nayak, a Mumbai-based businessman who has taken the route for years, put it simply: “When you’re heading home, the first thing you want is a sense of ease. With Joseph, that started the moment you boarded. Always a smile, always steady on the road.”
That steadiness mattered. In 34 years of service, including thousands of monsoon trips through the Western Ghats, passengers recall no major accidents or rash driving complaints linked to his bus. For overnight journeys where families sleep trusting the driver, that record is everything.
Machado hails from Udyawar in Udupi. His years on the road were not without personal challenges. A few years ago he underwent open-heart surgery. KSRTC granted him six months of paid leave for recovery, a gesture he still mentions with gratitude. “They stood by me when I needed it most,” he told well-wishers at his farewell. “I could come back and do my duty because of that support.”
Family has been his other anchor. He and his wife have two daughters. The elder works as a software engineer in Dubai. The younger is pursuing studies in Manipal.
Machado’s send-off in Mumbai was not the usual depot farewell. Passengers organized it, a rare reversal of roles where those who were driven came together to honor the driver. Garlands, speeches, and shared stories replaced the routine boarding announcements for one evening.
In an industry where attrition is high and burnout is common, staying committed to public service for three decades sets a different bar. KSRTC’s reputation is built on drivers who treat every trip as a responsibility, not just a shift. Machado embodied that.
As he steps into retirement, Machado says his message is simple: respect the machine, respect the passengers, and respect the road. “If you drive with patience, the road takes care of you.”
For new recruits entering KSRTC depots this year, his career is a playbook: upgrade your skills, stay consistent, and remember that every passenger is someone’s family.
Public transport runs on engines, but it lasts because of people like Joseph Machado.
