Chennai: The state government claimed operating 75 per cent of buses were operated on Monday, but public transport was heavily hit as most of the workers took part in the strike. Throughout the state, about 80 to 90 per cent of the buses did not run, causing immense hardships to the people.
Services in suburbs from Tambaram and Avadi were severely hit as the addition of three train services did not help to carry the heavy load of commuters who used the government buses. The strike hit normal life throughout the state, but private buses helped commuters in cities like Tiruchy. At places like Chennai and its suburbs where there are no regular private buses, people had to rely on heavily packed electric trains, autos, share autos and call taxis which charged double or triple than the normal rates.
Train passengers from various parts of the state who got down at Tambaram were stranded since there were no buses towards Guduvanchery or Chengalpattu. The few private buses that were operated from Tambaram stopped their services from 8 pm and people had to rely on autos and share autos paying double or triple than normal. Some of the train passengers from the delta districts who were waiting for a long time at Tambaram wondered why private companies are not allowed to operate in Chennai and its suburbs.
