On Monday- September 11, a significant disruption in private transportation services is expected as the Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has called for a 'bandh' protest.
This federation represents 32 private transport associations, and the majority of private transport services are likely to be unavailable from midnight today until midnight on Monday.
This strike is anticipated to pose challenges for various segments of the population, including school students and office-goers, who heavily rely on private vehicles, such as autos, taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, and corporate buses for their daily commutes. To alleviate the inconvenience caused to school children, some schools in the city have decided to declare a holiday on Monday.
Additionally, travelers heading to the airport will need to seek alternative means of transportation during this period.
The primary demands of the federation behind this bandh are to call for a ban on bike taxis and to urge the government to extend the Shakti scheme—which provides free bus rides to women on state-run transport buses—to include private buses. They claim that the Shakti scheme has adversely affected their business, and despite multiple discussions, the state government has not addressed their grievances.
Approximately 7 to 10 lakh vehicles, including autos, taxis, airport taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, school vehicles, as well as stage carriages, contract carriages, and corporate buses, are expected to stay off the roads on Monday, according to S Nataraj Sharma, the president of the federation. As part of the bandh, the federation has organized a protest march from Sangolli Rayanna Circle to Freedom Park in the city.
To minimize the inconvenience to the public, the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has announced that it will operate additional bus trips and services within the city and to Kempegowda International Airport on Monday.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has expressed the government's willingness to engage in discussions with the federation and is taking measures to ensure that the public's inconvenience is kept to a minimum.