Bengaluru private transporters' strike: Passengers face brunt; protestors resort to violence

In many places, protesters forcefully stopped auto and taxi drivers, and there were also instances of assaulting drivers and damaging vehicles.

Passengers  in the country’s tech capital on September 11 had a rough time getting to school, colleges and work on Monday due to the 24-hour transporters' strike on 32 demands including the withdrawal of the Shakti scheme (free women's bus travel).

Some 32 transport unions, including those of auto-rickshaws, taxis, maxi cabs, school bus operators, intercity bus operators, and goods vehicles, under the banner of the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association, participated in the strike.

Fewer auto-rickshaws and cabs are plying on roads in Majestic and the Central Business district.  In many places, protesters forcefully stopped auto and taxi drivers, and there were also instances involving assault of drivers and vehicles being damaged.  Protestors deflated the tyres of cabs and auto-rickshaws on roads and abused and roughed up drivers who chose to defy the strike call and report for work. At Chikkajala, protesters pelted stones at an airport taxi ferrying passengers including a family.  In Hebbal, protestors hurled eggs at a cab driver for not participating in the strike. In many places, Rapido bike taxi riders were assaulted and their vehicles were damaged by the protestors.

Private transporters marched from KSR City railway station to Freedom Park, where they  staged a demonstration. They threatened to instensify protest if the demands are not met.

There are also complaints of auto rickshaw drivers demanding excessive fares.  Passengers, especially those who reached Majestic bus terminus and KSR Bengaluru City railway station from other districts and states, were stranded due to the low availability of app-based cabs and auto-rickshaws. At Kalasipalya bus terminus, some bus operators began services but protestors stopped them after a while.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) saw an increase in riders and Metro stations recorded high footfalls. Aneesh Kumar, a passenger who reached Majestic, said: "I wasn't aware of the strike, and nobody was accepting any rides. So I am planning to take a BMTC bus."

At Kempegowda International Airport, a severe shortage of cabs has been reported forcing passengers to wait in long queues. BMTC operated 100 additional Vayu Vajra airport buses. Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble also took a BMTC Vayu Vajra bus home from the airport due to the strike.

School bus drivers too participated in the strike which affected students and parents. Bengaluru traffic police and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) issued advisories due to the strike.

While BMTC is operating an additional 500 buses, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has decided to run trains every five minutes during peak hours (8 am.-11:30 am and 5 pm-8 pm) and every six to eight minutes during non-peak hours.

Sources said that many private schools, especially those without their vehicles, declared a holiday on September 11 due to the strike. Some schools have shifted to online classes.

Transport unions said they have been impacted by the Shakti scheme, a free bus travel scheme for women in Karnataka. They also demanded a ban on bike taxis as well as financial aid of Rs 10,000 each for drivers. Other demands include the establishment of a corporation to support unorganized commercial drivers, low-interest loans, prevention of white-board vehicles from ferrying passengers, scholarships for children of drivers, a ban on app-based aggregators, including private buses under the Shakti scheme, and action against finance companies harassing drivers.

Also read: Bengaluru transporters threaten to go on strike on September 11

Also read: Private transporters seek to regulate mobility aggregators; Karnataka minister says govt open to talks amid strike call