Hyderabad: The all-India strike called by transport unions, against the Road Transport and Safety Bill, evoked partial response on Thursday in Hyderabad and other cities of Telangana and AP.
APSRTC buses didn’t participate in the strike citing their strike from May 6 demanding pay revision. In Hyderabad, autos and taxis were plying normally though unions have pledged their support to the agitation.
Transport unions across the country called for a one-day strike against the NDA government’s draft Road Safety and Transport Bill citing the impracticality of the proposed legislation.
The Bill proposed heavy fines and convictions for violation of traffic and road rules with the fine amounts ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh for lighter vehicles and Rs 5,000 to Rs 3 lakh for heavy vehicles.
“They have not even spared bicycles from fines. The government needs to put proper infrastructure in place first and then impose fines,” Telangana Auto Drivers Samakhya general secretary A. Sathi Reddy said.
Transport unions say that the Bill will lead to privatisation of transport sector giving private players monopoly. RTC services were partially hit in Khammam. In AP, the impact was greater as 30,000 auto and truck drivers stayed off roads. Transport union leaders blocked buses in many places.
