Bengaluru: Brace for a bus strike on April 30

Bengaluru: Here is bad news for city residents. Even before they could recover from the Karnataka bandh called on April 18 to protest against Tamil Nadu's opposition to the proposed Mekedatu irrigation project comes another bandh. This time employees of various transport organisations have called for a bandh on April 30 against the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014. All transport vehicles are expected to be off the roads bringing the city to a standstill.

The nation-wide bandh has been called against the bill which is expected to end the monopoly of state owned public sector  transport corporations. The KSRTC employees union has already announced its support for the bandh. With the majority of other private bus operators also joining the bandh, transport services are expected to be disrupted.

According to sources, Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) was forced to reschedule the Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to various medical/ engineering/ dental/ architecture colleges following an announcement by KSRTC employees union that they will join the bandh. "The CET exam was originally scheduled for April 29 and 30. But now it is postponed to May 12 and 13. If KSRTC buses go off the road CET candidates may suffer. So, a decision to reschedule the CET was taken,” explained an officer.

According to sources, KSRTC employees have already alerted the management on the bandh call.

Cab operators undecided

Though Cab service providers and truck owners federation have not decided on taking part in the bandh, many feel they may participate. “This bandh has been supported by various unions. So transport across the state could come to a standstill,” said an officer from transport department.

Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents’ Association has called a meeting on Friday. “A decision on participating in the  bandh  will be taken in the meeting,” said association president G.R. Shankukhappa.