Private transporters’ strike in Bengaluru on September 11 likely to affect commuters
The Hindu
Bengaluru private transport unions call for bandh on Mon. 10 lakh vehicles incl. buses, autorickshaws, cabs, school buses likely to go off roads. 32 unions have 28 demands, incl. free bus rides for women, ban on bike taxis & private buses. Schools, airport, offices likely to be affected. Govt. has begun preparations to minimise inconvenience. Drivers have been given choice to log in/off. BMTC to run more buses to airport. Rallies planned to Freedom Park, unlikely to be allowed by traffic police.
With talks breaking down between the Karnataka government and the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association, the private fare-transport bandh in Bengaluru on September 11, Monday, is likely to be a reality and affect normal life.
As private buses, autorickshaws, cabs, and even school buses, totalling around 10 lakh vehicles, are likely to go off the roads on Monday, the bandh will affect commute to schools, airport, and offices as well.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that while the government was open to talks, the unions were hellbent on a strike. “So, we have begun preparations to ensure the inconvenience to the public is minimised,” he told The Hindu.
A total of 32 private transport unions have called for the strike with a litany of 28 demands, including a ban on bike taxis and private buses, demanding Shakti scheme that offers free bus rides to women on RTC buses be extended to private buses as well.
While a few unions participated in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the issue, a few boycotted it. However, the unions say the government has remained non-committal on their demands.
Of the 32 unions that have supported the bandh call, a few have said while they support the bandh on Monday, they have left the decision to run services or not to individual drivers.
Tanveer Pasha, President of Ola, Uber Drivers and Owners Association, said, “There are around 1.15 lakh auto rickshaws and 45,000 Ola and Uber cabs providing service in the city. We have left the decision to individual drivers to either log in or log off.”
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.