State government-run bus services were majorly hit on Monday’s Bharat Bandh in Karnataka with busy junctions in Bengaluru wearing a deserted look. Both intra-city and inter-state bus services from and to Bengaluru were affected as workers chose not to report on duty.A nation-wide strike called by the Congress on the issue of rising fuel prices has been backed by its coalition partner JD(S) in the state. Trade unions and worker federations have also shown active support to the strike. Anticipating the inconvenience that students might face, all schools and colleges were asked by the district administration to be shut.
Only Namma Metro and South Western Railway services were playing as usual on Monday morning. “Trains are operating as per schedule No incidents reported from any stations as at 8-45 am. We will continue to operate as per schedule today unless advised otherwise by our security/Police,” Vasanth Rao, Namma Metro PRO tweeted.
Trains are operating as per schedule No incidents reported from any stations as at 8-45 am. We will continue to operate as per schedule today unless advised otherwise by our security/Police
— Namma Metro CPRO (@uavasanthrao) September 10, 2018
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) which runs buses to and from the airport and also within the city were also off the roads. All of the 1202 journeys within the city were suspended. No buses had reached or left the airport till 8am either. A huge number of private cab drivers are also on strike protesting against the rising fuel prices.
A small group of the Airport Taxi Drivers Association had tried to block the toll gate leading to the airport but they were swiftly moved away by the police on spot. This meant that till 8am commuters to the airport were only using private vehicles or app hailed cabs which are also charging higher than normal rates and very long waiting times.
According to data from Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) between 6am-8am on Monday, only 149 buses started their journeys out of a total 2513 scheduled departures. The usually busy Majestic Bus Station saw very little activity with commuters stranded.
Notably, out of 98 departure only 1 operated from the Mysore Road Satellite Bus Station in the first two hours of operation. In the first two hours of the bandh, no KSRTC buses operated from Chitradurga, Shivamogga, Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru, Kolar and Ramanagara districts.
Autorickshaws which are plying are charging exorbitant rates.
