BMTC, KSRTC bus strike a boon for train commuters

Bengaluru: The BMTC/KSRTC staff strike between July 25 and 27 came as a blessing in disguise for those who are agitating for the commuter train in the city. Reason: the city residents now want the South Western Railway (SWR) to continue some of the stop-gap arrangements made during the bus strike, as they were very helpful to them.

Here are two examples: Residents of Whitefield can reach the city railway terminus in Majestic, which is 23.3 kilometers away, in just 42 minutes by train. But the real issue is that most of the express trains do not have stoppage. Even stoppage of two trains between Whitefield and Baiyyappanahalli could go a long way in easing their woes.

But on all three days of the strike, all the trains on this route were provided with additional stoppages. As a result passengers were able to reach the heart of the city very easily. Now the locals have decided to raise the issue with the SWR to continue all the stoppages.

Rakesh H Gowda, a local resident and daily commuter between Vidhana Soudha and Whitefield, told this newspaper that they will soon launch a campaign in this regard.

SWR's other decision that all mail/express trains running from Mysuru and Bengaluru had additional stoppage at Nayandahalli, also helped the passengers, as Namma Metro’s purple service originates from Nayandahalli.

"Earlier we were forced to get down at City Railway station, stop and catch a bus or metro to the other areas. As most of the platforms in the city railway station remain busy in the morning, it takes a minimum of 20 minutes to reach Nayandahalli and the city railway station. But we were able to get down at Nayandahalli on the days of the strike, bringing us closer to other parts of the city,” said Sumitra, an employee in the Vikasa Soudha and a resident from Ramanagar.

When contacted, an officer from the SWR said that technically it is not possible to provide stoppage on a regular basis. "But if people demand, we must look into it,” he said.

Vendors vent ire on BBMP, cops
After the city witnessed a series of bandhs, including those called by the BMTC, KSRTC and various organisations against the tribunal verdict in the Mahadayi case, now street vendors have shut shop in protest against harassment by BBMP officials and police. Many from Yeshwantpur and city market expressed their solidarity by staying away from the footpaths.

Hundreds of street vendors affiliated to Federation of Bruhat Bengaluru Street Vendors, hit the road and conducted a march from Chandrashekar Azad ground in Malleswaram to Freedom park, demanding that they be allowed to do business on the footpath, without obstructing the  movement of pedestrians.

C.E. Rangasway, general secretary of the federation, said that harassment and fleecing of vendors by BBMP officials and cops should immediately stop. As directed by the high court, hawkers should not be evicted by the BBMP until a survey of the hawkers was conducted across the city, he said.

Vinay Srinivas, from Alternative Law Forum, who is supporting the federation, said the union government is busy chalking out reforms and amendments for malls and super markets.