Bengaluru: While the bus commuters across the city were bracing for an indefinite BMTC and KSRTC strike from Monday, they were in for a rude shock as several BMTC and KSRTC buses stayed off the roads on Sunday noon itself.
Extending solidarity with the protest called by the BMTC and KSRTC staff, several staff members from different depots resorted to protest from second shift onwards.
In Koramangala depot, out of 650 employees only 230 reported for the duty. “While during the general shift in the morning, the depot had full attendance, the second shift only five vehicles could hit the roads,” said an employee.
Unaware about the fall in bus frequency, Prakash R got stranded at Majestic and was at the mercy of auto-rickshaw drivers, as there were no buses heading towards his house in Rajajinagar. “I had to walk for over a kilometre and ended-up paying extra to the auto-rickshaw driver to reach my home.”
On Sunday evening, most of the bus depots across the city were crowded with people hoping to board buses to reach their home. 2-day holiday for schools
In the wake of indefinite bus strike, the state government has declared a two-day holiday for schools and colleges.
The chief secretary has authorised deputy commissioners' of all districts to take a decision regarding holiday in their respective districts, depending upon the prevailing situation.
Schools and colleges would function normally in Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga and Hassan. However, parents of children studying in private schools are in a dilemma as many have not got any confirmation regarding the holiday from respective school authorities. Many parents claimed they were unsure regarding sending their children to school. However those who received messages from schools are a relieved lot.
Mythri, whose 12-year-old son studies in a private school in Varthur, is still waiting for the confirmation from school authorities. She told DC, “My children are having tests on Monday and now there is a lot of confusion as I hear that the government has declared holiday, but we still have not heard from the school. We are also confused whether the Monday and Tuesday tests will now take place on Wednesday or will they change the timetable.”
Sujatha, a resident of Whitefield, is unsure about sending her 13-year-old daughter to school on Monday. She said, “We have not received any information from the school regarding holiday. When I called one of the school employees, who looks after the transport, I was told that the school will remain open on Monday. What a parent should do in such a situation? There is no clarity whether the school will function or remain closed?”
When Deccan Chronicle contacted D. Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the Karnataka Associated Managements of English-Medium Schools (KAMS) he said, “Most schools will be closed for two days over the indefinite strike called by BMTC and KSRTC employees. We welcome the government order in wake of the safety and security of the children. Be it a private or government, all the educational institutions shall remain closed. But, if some schools choose to remain open, despite the government order, they will be in trouble if any untoward incident took place.”
BU exams put off
Bangalore University has postponed all its undergraduate and postgraduate exams scheduled for Monday. A BU official told DC, “The new dates will be announced soon and the varsity hasn’t taken any decision regarding the exams scheduled on Tuesday.”
Police beefs up security
The city police have made elaborate security arrangements to avert any untoward incident in wake of the strike called by BMTC and KSRTC employees. In addition to the city police, additional platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and City Armed Reserve (CAR) will be deputed for bandobust in the city on Monday.
Additional Commissioners of Police and DCPs will be monitoring the bandobust. As many as 21 ACPs, 106 inspectors, 174 sub inspectors, 368 ASIs, 956 head constables, 1,950 constables and 140 women constables have been deployed for bandobust.
Thirty six platoons of KSRP and 30 platoons of CAR will be deployed along with 1,000 home guards. The Bengaluru traffic police took to Twitter on Sunday evening and updated the netizens about the availability of buses on roads. One of the tweet shared by Upparpet traffic police read, “Sir, effect of tomorrow's KSRTC/BMTC protest is already visible with roads donning a deserted look.”
KSRTC driver threatened
Four unidentified men stopped a KSRTC bus, coming from Chikkamagaluru, near Richmond Circle on Sunday, threatened the driver for running the service, despite a strike call.
According to a complaint filed by the bus driver, Mudalaiah, the incident happened around 6 pm, while the bus was heading to Majestic from Shantinagar bus terminus. The four men stopped the bus near Pratibha Jewellery and told him to get down. They reprimanded the driver for plying the bus and even threatened some passengers, who came to the driver’s rescue.
