JOIN USBus passengers in the State will be in for a harrowing time on April 30 as services of the BMTC and KSRTC are likely to be hit following a call given for a nationwide strike of road transport undertaking employees.
The strike is being observed to protest against the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2015. The unions, having a strong membership of 7.5 lakh workers, will protest against the Bill as they feel it will curtail the powers of state-owned transport companies while providing unfair advantages to private bus operators.
H V Anantha Subbarao, General Secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress, said: “The Bill seeks to take away the powers of the road transport undertakings (RTU) to frame routes and will make them participate in a bidding process for routes framed by committees. This will create unhealthy and cut-throat competition which will increase accidents.”
According to Subbarao, the new law would also allow private operators to lease bus stands and use them for operations. The unions are asking for the Bill to be held back until all stakeholders are taken into confidence and issues discussed.
As a prelude to this, on April 14, a protest dharna has been planned by several unions at the Town Hall here which will be followed by the strike on April 30.
However, officials of BMTC and KSRTC have assured that the bus services will not be affected on April 14. Unions like CITU, BMS and United Employees Union will also participate in the strike.
BMTC Managing Director Ekroop Caur promised to take a call closer to the date of the planned strike.