On Monday, Bengaluru witnessed a bandh organized by the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association. Protesters from 32 private transport unions embarked on a march from the city’s Majestic area to Freedom Park.
The federation, consisting of various unions representing bus, auto, and taxi drivers, among others, initiated the strike due to the state government’s perceived failure to meet their demands, which include a request to ban cab aggregator apps.
With a total of 32 private transport associations participating in the bandh, most private transport services were unavailable during the strike.
In response to the bandh, cab, auto-rickshaw, and private bus services remained off the roads, while BMTC buses and Namma Metro increased their trips to alleviate the impact.
Bengaluru police took measures to manage traffic, given the increased presence of buses and private vehicles on the road. Additionally, transport unions organized a rally in Central Bengaluru, which was expected to cause traffic congestion in the area.
Duration of the Strike: Private bus, taxi, and auto unions called for a shutdown from Sunday midnight to Monday midnight. The Bengaluru traffic police issued a traffic advisory to help the public plan their commutes accordingly.
Reasons for the Private Transporters’ Protest: Private transporters claimed that the Shakti scheme had adversely affected them and that the state government had not met their demands despite repeated discussions. The scheme aims to provide free bus rides within the state for women and transgender individuals.
Traffic Police Advisory: The Bengaluru Traffic Police issued an advisory warning commuters about potential disruptions in taxi, maxi cab, private bus, and auto-rickshaw services due to the bandh. They advised road users to consider alternative routes and plan their travel accordingly.
The advisory also suggested alternative routes for vehicles coming from various directions, aiming to minimize disruption caused by the bandh.
Commuters were advised to avoid KG road, Sheshadri road, GT road, and the areas around Freedom Park and Majestic bus stand.
