Bengaluru Bandh Called Off: Here's All About The Reason Behind Strike, Govt's Action Plan

The one day-long Bengaluru Bandh, called by the Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Association was called of after the state government agreed to 27 of 30 demands made by them.

This comes after the State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy met the union leaders at the Freedom Park and spoke to them.

The decision has been conveyed by S Nataraj Sharma, president of the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations.

Owing to bandh,  about nine lakhs of private vehicles including autos, taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles and corporate buses were affected.

Who called the bandh?

The Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations called the bandh, and it comprises of 32 private transport association.

Why has the bandh been called?

The Federation called the bandh to seek a ban on bike taxis and to urge the government to extend the Shakti scheme (that offers free bus rides to women on state-run transport buses) to private buses as well, among other demands.

How has the state government responded?

Karnataka Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah called some demands made by them “impossible,” adding that they cannot be met.

He also said that although they cannot put restrictions on protests or bands, they should be peaceful.

State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy also said that the Union was demanding Rs 1,000 crores as compensation and that every issue was not in the hands of the government.

“Some issues are in the High Court and Supreme Court…Things which I can solve, I have taken actions on that…,” he said, news agency ANI reported.

How did authorities prepare for it?

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda told news agency PTI that adequate security arrangements were made across the city as a precautionary measure.

The emergency services and daily essential transportation services also remained uninterrupted during bandh.

“All our officials including senior officers are on patrolling and we have also used sufficient number of tracking forces at all the strategic locations. We have also spoken to the associations who are participating in the strike. They would be assembling at Freedom Park where the protest will be held,” he said.

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) also said that it will run more bus trips and services in the city and also to Kempegowda International Airport due to this.

How were people affected by Bandh?

As private cabs are the main mode of transport for school children, some institutions in the city declared holiday on Monday, news agency PTI said.

The Bengaluru Airport Authority advised passengers to make necessary arrangements to reach the airport on time in view of bandh.