Buses will ply as usual today: Transport department

However, a decision on bus services to southern districts will be taken after analysing the situation in those areas, transport officials said.

M Shanmugam, secretary of Labour Progressive Federation said, “We along with other major transport unions like CITU and AITUC will participate in the bandh. However, there is a possibility that unions associated with the ruling party and other neutral unions may abstain from the agitation on Friday. We seek support from workers and the public to register our strongest condemnation to the police firing incident at Thoothukudi.”

R Ananthapadmanabhan, managing director, State Express Transport Corporation, told DTNext that there would be no change in the operation of the buses across the state. “All the buses will be operated without any problem and there is no need for passengers to panic in view of the bandh call,” he said. When asked about the suspension of bus services to southern districts, the MD said, “We will wait and see.”

Meanwhile, omni bus owners’ associations said that they would operate minimum number of buses on Friday.

Similarly, MTC is gearing up to operate its entire fleet in the city and the suburbs. “We have already instructed workers to come for work and all the 3,200 buses will be on the road on Friday. Action will be taken against those employees who fail to report for duty,” said a senior official.

Even though the traders’ associations supported the bandh, the Koyambedu market will remain open on Friday. V R Soundararajan, a member of Koyambedu Market Management Committee said, “the main market in the city will remain open and no trader belonging to any association has showed willingness to down shutters.”