Chennai: Sixty-five-year-old Meenakshi Sundaram, a retired teacher living in Tambaram, wanted to visit his daughter in Vadapalani on Tuesday but changed his plans. The heat and strike by transport employees have forced most people to stay indoors and travel only on need basis.
Sundaram did not want to undergo the ordeal of waiting for a bus or share auto, travel in it in the blazing sun by shelling out more money that he spends usually and with the thought of how to return from Vadapalani to his residence in Tambaram. “Transport employees’ strike forced me to cancel my plans,” he said. As the strike entered the second day, 75 per cent of the MTC buses remained off Chennai roads as people were forced to rely on private transport like cabs, auto rickshaws and private buses that literally fleeced them. And a few professionals had to take out their two-wheelers from parking lots despite the scorching the heat.
“I have not been using my two-wheeler for the past few weeks due to the heat, but on Tuesday I was forced to take out my motorcycle. Though the heat is unbearable, it is better than waiting for buses for hours at bus stops,” Santhosh R, a regular commuter. MTC buses were out of sight in Tambaram, Anna Salai, Perambur, Koyambedu and Guindy. Tripti G, a resident of Little Mount says, People traveling to outskirts had to rely on Volvo buses as STC buses were out of sight in Koyambedu bus depot and Perungalathur bus depot.
The travelers from other cities faced trouble commuting within the city, with high cab fares and overcrowded trains.Trains were considerably less crowded than Monday, but huge rush was witnessed during peak hours
