Bengaluru Bandh LIVE Updates: Private Transporters' Strike Today; Traffic Police, Airport Issue Advisories

After N Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest, the TDP called Bandh in Andhra Pradesh on Monday.

The TDP Andhra Pradesh President K Atchannaidu requested the party cadre, citizens and the civil society to take part in the agitation and make it a success

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will run more bus trips and services in the city and also to Kempegowda International Airport on Monday to mitigate the inconvenience caused to the public by the bandh

Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations, which comprises a total of 32 private transport associations, has said that it has organized a protest march from Sangolli Rayanna circle to Freedom Park in the city as part of the bandh.

Lakhs of private vehicles including autos, taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles and corporate buses could stay off the roads on Monday, making commuting difficult for school students and office-goers, among others, as the Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has called for a ‘bandh’ The federation comprises a total of 32 private transport associations, and most of the private transport services are unlikely to be available starting from midnight today to midnight on Monday.

As private maxi cabs are one of the main modes of transport for several school children, some schools in the city have declared a holiday on Monday to avoid inconvenience to students, official sources said.

About 7 to10 lakh vehicles including autos, taxis, airport taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, school vehicles, also stage carriages, contract carriages and corporate buses, are going off the roads today, S Nataraj Sharma, president of the federation said.

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will run more bus trips and services in the city and also to Kempegowda International Airport on Monday to mitigate the inconvenience caused to the public by the bandh.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy had recently said that the government was open to talks with the federation and is also making preparations to ensure that the inconvenience to the public is minimised.

The federation has called for bandh seeking a ban on bike taxis, and urging the government to extend the Shakti scheme — that offers free bus rides to women on state-run transport buses — to private buses as well, among other demands.

The private transporters have claimed that they have been negatively impacted by the Shakti scheme and that the state government has not fulfilled their demands despite repeated discussions.

About 7 to lakh vehicles including autos, taxis, airport taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, school vehicles, also stage carriages, contract carriages and corporate buses, will go off the roads tomorrow, S Nataraj Sharma, president of the federation said.

Private vehicle owners and drivers have called for a Bandh in Bengaluru city opposing the Shakti scheme, which is one of the five government guarantees and provides free travel to women on government buses.

A call has been given for a Bandh from Sunday midnight to Monday midnight

After private vehicle owners and drivers called for a strike in Bengaluru, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Sunday said that they have the right to do so. He assured that Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses have been arranged to avoid any inconvenience to the public.

“We have arranged BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses for school-going children, office-going people and for those who’re going to hospitals. BMTC has arranged around 500 extra buses. Nothing will happen. They (private transport) are going for a strike, let them, they have the right to do so,” Reddy said.

Reddy earlier held a meeting with the Commissioner of the Transport Department and senior police officials.

Bengaluru traffic police has issued an advisory urging people to avoid KG Road, Sheshadri Road, GT Road and Roads around Freedom Park and Majestic Bus stand in view of the bandh. It also advised commuters to plan their travel to and from the airport accordingly.

“Due to the one-day protest called by private transport vehicle association on September 11, 2023, there might be disruption in the operation of taxis, maxi cabs, private buses & auto rickshaws,” said Bengaluru airport on Social media platform X.