Bus strike almost complete in Karnataka
The Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus strike has been almost complete in the State. Most of the buses are parked in bus depots and haven’t been taken out in any respect. Many commuters have been stranded in bus stands throughout the State.
The State authorities has allowed non-public buses and maxicabs to run routes utilizing RTC bus stand amenities. However, the non-public buses are few and much between and woefully insufficient to deal with the commuter load in the state. Commuters have additionally been complaining of personal buses, cabs and autorickshaws fleecing commuters.
“We have to go to work or else lose pay. But we also cannot afford to go in cabs or autorickshaws. Private vans are charging almost three times what they used to regularly,” mentioned Suma, a garment employee from Vidyaranyapura.
“I have to go back to my village in Madhugiri, Tumakuru for a medical emergency in the family. Since the strike is said to be indefinite I did not wait and want to get back to my family,” mentioned Prashanth Kumar, a carpenter ready for personal bus at Jalahalli Cross.
Transport Department has mentioned the RTCs have issued a charge checklist for personal buses and commuters can lodge complaints if non-public autos are overcharging.
In just a few situations, BMTC drivers from Shantinagar depot took the buses to the streets ferrying passengers however supplied them free rides with out issuing tickets. “We are being blamed for causing inconvenience to the public, which is not our intention. Ferrying passengers for free is our way of saying it,” mentioned Raju, a driver from Shantinagar depot, to media individuals.
Meanwhile, Kodohalli Chandrashekhar, honorary president, KSRTC Employees League, spearheading the strike, mentioned the staff had been agency in their resolve and wouldn’t break the strike untill their calls for had been met even when it meant staying off roads for a number of months. He blamed the state authorities for the inconvenience precipitated to the general public. “We had given a 21 day notice to the strike, but the government did not act to resolve the issue. Even now the government is adamant and ruled out negotiations,” he mentioned.