No KSRTC, BMTC buses, autos to ply on Bengaluru roads on April 30th

by April 29, 2015 Commute
KSRTC and BMTC buses will ply as usual in the night, after the strike. Auto unions are supporting the strike. Trains however will run as usual.

KSTC buses will ply as usual after 6pm. Pic: Pavan Kulkarni

With Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Staff and Workers’ Federation calling for a day-long strike opposing the provisions of the Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2015, KSRTC and BMTC buses will remain off road in Bengaluru on Thursday (April 30th).

Confirming the strike call to Citizen Matters, Staff and Workers’ Federation General Secretary H V Anantha Subba Rao said that the strike will last for 12 hours, from 6 am to 6 pm. “As many as 1,20,000 employees of Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) and North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC), have supported the strike call given by the Federation. We have decided not to operate the buses in support of the nation-wide strike call given by 54 public road transport corporations across the country,” he said.

KSRTC buses will ply at night

Elaborating the reason for the strike call, he said the proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2015, will ring death knell to the state transport undertakings. The Bill intends to privatise road transportation in India, which may pave way for inviting global tenders from private corporations. It will eventually liquidate the public transportation that has served the people for decades. Absence of level playing field will lead to the closure of state run road transport corporations, he feared.

That apart, he assured that the buses will ply as usual at night. “Over 42,000 seats have been pre-booked in KSRTC for Thursday night, and we do not want to disturb the public who have planned their week end in advance,” he said. However, general public are advised to leave their homes early to catch the buses, as traffic jams are likely to occur after the end of strike.

Due to the overload of bookings, KSRTC has arranged for extra night buses on the weekend, which will ply without any problem.

Meanwhile, the KSRTC management has issued a circular to the Federation requesting the staff work as usual, but the request has been outrightly rejected by the Federation.

Autorickshaws too will remain off road opposing the Bill, whereas taxis are likely to operate as the Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owner’s Association has not supported the strike call. Trains will ply as usual.

Various exams that were scheduled for April 30th, including Common Entrance Test (CET) have been postponed due to the strike. CET has been re-scheduled for May 12th and 13th.

Related Articles

KSRTC plies extra buses this weekend, boarding points changed

Sections:

About Akshatha M

Akshatha M was a Staff Journalist at Citizen Matters. She tweets at @akshata1.
Read more by Akshatha M

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

BEST fare increase: A necessary step to revive Mumbai’s lifeline

by May 14, 2025 Commute
BEST has doubled fares—now it must boost efficiency with more buses and shorter wait times to truly improve Mumbai’s public transport system.

The Bombay Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), Mumbai’s public bus service, has been an integral part of the life of the city’s residents for a century, supporting its thriving economy. Until a decade ago, it was a source of pride and a model for other Indian cities. However, its decline is now evident, largely due to a lack of transparency in decision-making regarding its operation and revival. As an environmental activist advocating for sustainable cities and a lifelong BEST user, I find its current state deeply saddening. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and BEST directly oversee the service's operations…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Making Mumbai school buses safe and accessible: What stakeholders want

by March 25, 2025 Commute
A Maharashtra government committee is drafting school bus guidelines. Parents and operators highlight key issues they want it to address.

“It is something you will remember throughout your life,” says Archana Patney about the experience of making friends while riding the bus to school. She opted for the school bus for her older child, but not for her younger one. She is among the many parents in Mumbai who have to make this important decision come June every year. The Maharashtra Transport Department is set to introduce new regulations for school buses in the upcoming academic year, with a committee led by retired transport officer Jitendra Patil tasked with drafting these measures. This decision follows a series of crimes against…

Continue reading