Auto strike: Roads safer, but thousands stranded

Bangalore: Monday morning seemed even more depressing than usual, due to the day-long auto strike called in protest of the hike in auto LPG rates.

Schoolchildren, senior citizens and those on their way to hospitals seemed to suffer most of all, for autos went off the roads at 6 am, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

Needless to say, buses ran packed throughout the day (the BMTC had even deployed 250 additional buses in lieu of the situation) and the roads were littered with taxis, for whom the strike proved very lucrative!

Meanwhile, a joint action committee that comprised a number of auto unions took to the streets in protest, urging the state government to intervene at once and sort out their demands.

Next: Auto strike brings Bangalore to standstill

Auto strike brings Bangaloreto standstill

Bangalore: Bangalore awoke to a bad case of the Monday morning blues, as autorickshaw drivers went on a day-long strike to protest the sudden hike in LPG rates. People from all walks of life, from working women to senior citizens, patients, mothers with new born babies, school children and tourists faced the consequences of the strike. In a bid to help passengers and patients seeking emergency treatment, the BMTC deployed about 250 additional buses, while the health department stationed all 108 ambulances within city limits.

As part of the strike, autos went off road from 6 am on Monday. As the strike call was given well in advance, city residents who depend on autos had made alternative arrangements.
Schoolchildren were among the hardest-hit by the day's strike. As auto drivers didn't turn up to take them to school, many children were forced to walk.  Students going to school on foot was a common sight, both in the morning as well as in the afternoon.

Patients and senior citizens also underwent a good deal of trauma, due to the bundh. As there were no autos, they were forced to use buses. Several lactating mothers stood with their infants in the vicinity of hospitals like Victoria Hospital, Jayanagar Hospital and KC general hospital. At many places, patients were spotted resting in the bus shelters, as they couldn't find the right bus and autos were nowhere in sight.

Rudramma, a 70-year-old from Magadi road, who was resting at the Victoria hospital bus stand with her daughter and newborn baby near KR Market, said she planned to wait at the bus stop till the strike was lifted in the evening. "I can't take my daughter in a bus as there is no direct bus. I need an auto. I will wait here till the evening,"she said.

Meanwhile, a joint action committee comprising various auto unions took to the streets in protest, urging the state and central governments to intervene immediately. Somashekhar, president of the Bangalore Auto Drivers Union said that they have met with concerned ministers as well as the CM, seeking political intervention to solve their problems.

Additional buses: BMTC deployed about 250 additional buses for service. "Bus day was celebrated on major corridors of the city on Monday. We deployed additional buses wherever the demand was high. We received a good response  and additional revenue," said Veeregowda GN, CTM (commercial) BMTC.