Karnataka Polls: Commuting in Bengaluru may be hit today as cab and taxi drivers head home to vote

BENGALURU: Tech-savvy Bengalureans used to booking a ride of their convenience through cab-aggregators’ applications may have to brace themselves for some lags and snags in their mobilit y on May 10. Reason: Most cabbies and taxi drivers are going to their hometowns to cast their vote.
Public bus service providers Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation have already signed off 27% and 45% of their fleet, respectively, for election duty, hitting regular passengers. Deficit in supply against the demand was overwhelmingly visible on Tuesday at KSRTC Majestic bus stand, where thousands were waiting for their regular buses en route their hometowns to arrive, but the wait was long and the chances to score a seat were slim.
Of the 8100-bus-strong KSRTC fleet, about 3,700 were deployed for polling duties. BMTC has given away 1,868 of its 6,700 buses for the same purpose.
Tanveer Pasha, presidentof Ola Uber Drivers’ and Owners’ Association, said of the 60,000-70,000 car-driving members, over 60% hail from districts excluding Bengaluru Urban. “Most of them will be go ing to their hometowns to cast their vote. Of these, most are from Mysuru and Bengaluru Rural. They will leave after finishing their duty on May 9 and return the morning after May 10. Those who are regi stered voters from Hubballi, Dharwad, Chitradurga and Davanagere and so on have already left. We expect all of them to return by May 11 morning,” Pasha told TOI.
He added that there w ill be a vehicle shortage in the cityand customers will face issues in securing a ride through mobile applications.
‘Autos more reliable option’
Rudramurth, general secretary of Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union, said most auto drivers, even those attached to thirdparty ride aggregators, are from Bengaluru and will be availa ble to serve the public on election day. “Their hometown may not be Bengaluru but most of them are registered voters here and they have all the necessary documents like identification papers, ration cards, etc. Less than 10% might be going out of the city to vote,”he said.