Bengaluru Bandh Today News: Private transport strike today, BMTC increases services

Bengaluru Bandh Today News, Bengaluru Bandh Timings: Lakhs of private vehicles including autos, taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles and corporate buses could stay off the roads today as the Karnataka State Private Vehicles Owners Association has given a call for "Bengaluru Bandh". As a result, commuting for school students and office-goers is likely to be impacted. 

Bengaluru Bandh Today News: Schools closed

The federation comprises a total of 32 private transport associations. As private maxi cabs are one of the main modes of transport for several school children, some schools in the city have declared a holiday on Monday to avoid inconvenience to students, official sources were quoted as saying by a news agency. Those commuting to the airport would need to find alternative means as well. 

Bengaluru Bandh Reason

The federation has called for bandh seeking a ban on bike taxis, and urging 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. The private transporters have claimed that they have been negatively impacted by the Shakti scheme and that the state government has not fulfilled their demands despite repeated discussions. 

About 7 to10 lakh vehicles including autos, taxis, airport taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, school vehicles, also stage carriages, contract carriages and corporate buses, will go off the roads, S Nataraj Sharma, president of the federation said. 

Bengaluru Bandh Today News: BMTC expands services

The Karnataka Transport Department has made arrangements in order to tackle the Bandh called by the private bus, taxi and auto unions, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Sunday. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will run more bus trips and services in the city and also to Kempegowda International Airport on Monday to mitigate the inconvenience caused to the public by the bandh.  

Bengaluru Bandh Today News: Traffic Advisory

Bengaluru traffic police has issued a traffic advisory for the public to plan accordingly after Karnataka State Private Vehicles Owner Association's call for 'Bengaluru Bandh' on Monday. “There might be disruption in the operation of taxis, maxi cabs, private buses and auto rickshaws. Therefore, all road users are advised to use alternative roads and plan their travel accordingly,” the advisory stated.

With agency inputs