Public stranded on roads as buses stay in depots

The CMBT was heavily crowded as there were only a few State Transport Corporation (SETC) buses plied. Most passengers, including women, were seen taking shelter on the platform. 

“I reached CMBT around 6 pm on Sunday to reach Theni, but no SETC buses were available and the mofussil bus stand wore a deserted look. When I approached the time keeper, I was told that due to the transport unions strike, only a few employees reported for work,” said A Madhavan, who was on his way to attend a wedding. He spent the whole night at the bus stand and opted to catch a train on Monday morning. 

Meanwhile, some government bus drivers said that they were ready to operate the buses but the public avoided boarding them fearing untoward incidents. “Many passengers showed them apprehension to travel in the buses. How can we operate the buses without passengers,” said a SETC driver in Koyambedu. 

Elsewhere in the state, the strike was near total. In Tiruchy, more than 85 per cent of the government transport corporation buses remained off the road. Private buses made a killing by over charging hapless passengers who were stranded across the central region. However, the district administrations ensured hassle-free transportation. In some areas like Karur, the impact of the strike was minimal with 90 per cent of buses on the road. In the western region, close to 70 per cent of the buses did not ply. Over 80 per cent vehicles in Coimbatore and more than 60 per cent of the 1,100 buses in the Salem region went off the road by afternoon.

Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar said the government is ready to hold talks with unions. He visited Pallavan House on Monday morning and claimed that 75 per cent of buses were being operated. He warned that stern action would be taken against omnibus operators who collected extra fare. “Measures are in place to increase the number of buses across the state,” he said and demanded the drivers to withdraw the strike. 

Similarly, transport unions made the same announcement. Shanmugam, general secretary of Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), said, “If the government organises a meeting to discuss our demands, we will certainly attend it. We do not want the public to suffer as we want a solution.”