Traders protest against shifting of mofussil bus stand to Sogathur in Dharmapuri

Traders in Dharmapuri protest the relocation of the mofussil bus stand, demanding its return to the town center.

The All Traders Association led a 12-hour strike, protesting against shifting of the mofussil bus stand to Sogathur here on Thursday (February 26, 2026). The strike that started on 6 a.m. hit normalcy freezing trade activities to a day-long halt.

The general strike call was issued by the association as shifting of the mofussil bus stand to Sogathur had impacted a cross section of the public including the small traders, whose business depended on the milling traffic that came from afar including Harur and Paapireddipatti.

P.R. Rajagopal Gounder mofussil bus stand that had been functioning in the town for years was shifted to the outskirts in Sogathur on February 5, 2026, after the new mofussil bus stand was constructed, leading to protests. However, the sudden diversion of mofussil buses and the public seeking transportation to the new bus stand led to heavy traffic, forcing the administration to temporarily permit buses plying via Harur, Paapireddipatti, Thiruvanamalai and Thirupathur to operate from the old Rajagopal Gounder mofussil bus stand.

On Thursday, small traders around government hospital, Netaji Bypass road, four road junction, and Elakiyampatti, closed over 100 shops demanding the mofussil bus stand be shifted back to the old bus stand. According to the association, the protest was not solely to protect the livelihoods of the traders but also for the benefit of the thousands of people visiting the Government medical college hospital from afar and students coming into Dharmapuri from rural areas, all of whom are compelled to travel to the outskirts to find a bus to their villages.