Bengaluru, Sep 2: All schools and colleges were closed on Friday in view of the bandh called by central trade unions to protest the government's 'anti-labour' policies. The district commissioner, Bengaluru Urban, communicated to all deputy directors of public instruction that schools will remain closed on Friday .
At Bangalore University , II year BA and B.Com examinations have been rescheduled for September 6, while the II year BBM (DCC) exam will be held on September 7. Some banks and private industrial enclaves will also not work. Transport unions have joined the bandh, which means public transport, including autorickshaws and cabs, in Bengaluru will be affected, though railways will operate as usual.
NO AUTOS BUT KSRTC BUSES MAY PLY
KSRTC and BMTC unions are supporting the bandh but the transport corporations are yet to decide on whether to operate buses or not. "It is hard to say how many will turn up for duty . It all depends on the situation tomorrow. If everything is calm, we will operate our buses," said Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation managing director Ekroop Caur. KSRTC public relations officer said its employees' association is participating in the bandh. If a driver or conductor does not turn up, ticket fare will be refunded to passengers. "We will resume operations at 3pm," the official said.
Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers' Union head M Manjunath said auto drivers associated with Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) will participate in the bandh. Not all the 10,000 to 15,000 union members will be off the roads, but he was unsure how many drivers would work.
According to Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRC) chief public re lations officer Vasant Rao, Metro trains will function as per schedule."However, the station controllers have been asked to watch the situation and make a decision." Long-distance and passenger trains will run as usual.SWR divisional railway manager SK Agarwal said: "Our staff is not going on strike. We will be vigilant to ensure that no untoward incident occurs. Trains will run as usual."
PRIVATE TAXIS STAY OFF ROADS
Private taxis, including those affiliated to various cab aggregators, will be off the road as drivers say they have many complaints against private companies. Tanveer Pasha, state president, Ola, Uber, Taxi for Sure Owners and Drivers' Association, said they will submit a list of demands to the management of Ola and Uber, the transport department and the Prime Minister's office.
By 9am, 4,000 to 5,000 drivers and owners wearing black ribbons will gather at the Ola office in Murgeshpalya and hold a protest for half a day .They will then head to Town Hall and continue their protest till 6pm. They want changes to the minimum number of trips they are required to do a day , which currently stands at 18. Despite working long hours, most drivers can complete only 12 trips a day , and are fined if they do not do 18, Pasha said. The companies do not follow the government tariffs of Rs 19.50 a km for air-conditioned cabs and Rs 14.50 a km for regular taxis, he said. "There is no transparency in their functioning and they are taking advantage of drivers. If there's no reaction to our demands in two weeks, we will go on strike from September 15 to 17. If we still don't get an acknowledgment, not a single vehicle will operate in Bengaluru and Mangaluru," he said.
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