Buses stay off road in Mangaluru, taxis and autos ply

MANGALURU: Buses, both KSRTC and private, remained off the roads in the city on Thursday following a strike call given by All India Transport Congress and various other trade unions against the proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014.
Taxis and few autorickshaws operated so normal life was not affected. Auto rickshaw drivers of Left and other organizations took part in the protest.Those in rural areas suffered due to the strike. Many were forced to reach their workplaces in Mangaluru using private vehicles.
Raviraj Shetty, a private company executive, said he reached Mangaluru driving his car. "I travel regularly between Puttur and Mangaluru using KSRTC service, which is convenient for me. Today, I had to use my car." Kishore Kumar, a regular traveller on Moodbidri - Mangaluru route, said he drove his two-wheeler to reach his office in the city. "Riding was comfortable as buses are off the roads," he added.
Public carriers on inter-state route between Mangaluru and Kasaragod too remained off the road.
KSRTC and few private buses resumed services after 6pm in the city and on the outskirts too.
Motor Transport and Engineering Workers Union (CITU) district general secretary Vasantha Achary said the response to the strike was good. "Working class people have brought to light the conspiracy of the government, which is planning to open the transport sector to capitalists. It is a dangerous move. Drivers will be sent to jail even for silly mistakes if the Bill is passed. We also have to oppose the government's policy that allows the Centre to take full share of the income from the transport sector," Achary said at a protest meet.
Federation of Karnataka Autorickshaw Drivers Union Dakshina Kannada district committee president Sunil Kumar Bajal urged the government to drop the proposal of introducing Road Transport & Safety Bill. He said the Bill will be disastrous for drivers.