THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Life in the state will be hit by the dusk-to-dawn hartal called by the ruling LDF in Kerala on Monday. The worst to be hit by the hartal would be the transport sector, both public and private. Only banking, tourism, marriages, medical, milk supply and media have been formally exempted from the strike. Being a hartal organised by the ruling front, the chances of forcibly preventing vehicles and shutting shops would be avoided. Though KSRTC has plans to operate all services as per schedule, it would depend on employees turning up for work.
"We have directed all units to carry out services as usual and seek police protection wherever necessary. But depending on employee turn out and general situations, further decisions would be taken," a top KSRTC official said. Majority of auto-rickshaws and taxis would also be keeping off the roads on the hartal day. Unavailability of public transportation service will also hit functioning of government and private offices. Police would also be offering transportation services between important places, especially between major railway stations and hospitals.
“In Thiruvananthpuram city, police buses will be deployed at Thampanoor area to provide transportation to those reaching railway stations and bus stand to places like hospitals,” city police commissioner G Sparjan Kumar said. Police would also provide security to buses of institutions like VSSC and Technopark that operate on a convoy basis. Shiv Sena is also supporting LDF stir agaisnt the alleged attempt to destroy cooperative sector by demonetisation and the party is observing Monday as a black day.
