States »SoutPosted at: Apr 8 2021 12:16PM Transport workers agitation enters second day, no bus movement in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Apr 8 (UNI) Pathetic condition of travelling for public continued in Karnataka for the second day as KSRTC and BMTC buses were off the road as workers demanding implementation of 6th pay Commission abstained from work.
Adding to the travelling public woes, exorbitant bus fares were collected by private operators who were permitted by the Karnataka government to operate. Despite giving a price list and warning against charging more, the private operators are collecting more than double the normal fare and people with no option left were forced to pay.
However, on a positive note, about 100 RTC buses were operated by regular crew members. Accordingly, 54 buses of NEKRTC, 38 buses of KSRTC, 28 of BMTC and 14 of NEKRTC were operated by the regular crew.
About 300 employees, mostly trainees have been attending work in fear of disciplinary action. While these employees can't fill in for the 1.3 lakh on strike, officials expect more to return to work.
The private buses and maxi cabs deployed as an alternative to BMTC saw a larger number of riders compared to the poor response on Wednesday while the Namma Metro stations witnessed more passengers during the peak hours.
KSRTC Managing Director Shivayogi C Kalasad said at least 500 buses will cater to the needs of the interstate passengers. These buses, both from corporations and private players in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, will help the commuters during the festive rush. The bus connectivity with Kerala and Maharashtra will continue to be affected due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Meanwhile SWR will run nine pairs of trains with limited services between Bengaluru and many districts across the State to clear the festival rush in view of the strike called by the workers of state road transport corporations (RTC).
South Western Railway (SWR) in a state here said that 18 special trains will be run from various destinations to clear the rush. The first of these is the special train from Hubli to Yeshwantpur.
Special trains were also run Yeshwantpur-Vijayapura, Yeshwantpur-Belagavi, Yeshwantpur-Bidar and Mysore-Bidar, Shivamogga-Bengaluru, Mysuru-Bengaluru and Karwar-Yeshwantpur.
Due to ongoing agitation, several Universities have postponed examinations scheduled. Mangalore University has postponed all exams scheduled for UG (undergraduate) students till April 10, said Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof P S Yadapadithaya.
According to reports reaching headquarters, the strike was totalled with buses remaining off the road in the State. No untoward incident reported from any part so far.
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