Karnataka bandh: Commuters left at the mercy of overcharging auto, taxi drivers

TNN
January 10, 2019

Bengaluru, Jan 10: With most BMTC buses staying off roads on Wednesday, many Bengalureans had no choice but to take autorickshaws or hop on to app-based cabs. Several commuters were stranded for hours at terminuses and bus stops after the staterun transport corporation withdrew its services.

Commuters crowded the few buses which ran, with many standing on footboards. Some passengers were also seen arguing with BMTC staff at Majestic over the delay in resuming services.

“I waited for more than an hour to get a bus to Koramangala,” said Parash Prathan, a regular bus commuter. “A few buses had plied on Tuesday so I thought the strike wouldn't have much of an impact on Wednesday.”

Daily wage employees were the worst hit. S Subramanian, who works in a catering firm said, “I could not make it to my workplace in Begur and I will lose a day’s pay.”

Taher A, who landed in the city from Chennai on work, said: “I was unaware of the strike since there was absolutely no effect in Chennai. I had to depend on app-based taxis and spent far more than I had budgeted.”

Many commuters said auto drivers demanded excess fare and app-based aggregators imposed surge pricing due to the strike. “Auto drivers were demanding a minimum fare of Rs 100 instead of Rs 25,” said Sandeep S, a commuter at Majestic. However, many autorickshaw drivers said they were taking a risk ferrying passengers.

Bengaluru traffic police said they booked more than 1,300 cases against errant auto drivers on Wednesday. Numbers released by the police show 699 cases were booked for refusal to ply and 667 for demanding excess fare.

Several stretches witnessed heavy traffic congestion as many commuters used private vehicles and cabs to reach their places of work. While BMRCL saw a rise in ridership, many users had to depend on cabs and autorickshaw for first and last mile connectivity.

46 BMTC buses stoned, 3 drivers injured

Forty-six BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses and 17 KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) buses were damaged in incidents of stone pelting on Wednesday, the second day of the two-day nationwide strike called by trade unions.

A dozen BMTC buses were damaged on Tuesday and 46 on Wednesday, taking it to 58 in all. Officials said damages were reported from Chikkajala, Ulsoor, Malleswaram, Sadanahalli, Chandra Layout, Kengeri and RT Nagar.

“We never thought so many buses would be targeted,” said a senior BMTC official. “We are still assessing damages. It could be much higher than estimated. We have registered complaints with the respective police stations. Most incidents were reported outside depots and miscreants were riding two-wheelers.”

BMTC officials estimated the loss at Rs 7.5 lakh due to damages and Rs 3 crore due to cancellation of services on Wednesday alone. On Tuesday, BMTC had incurred a loss of about Rs 60,000 due to the damages. These losses are expected to deepen the financial crisis of the cash-strapped corporation, already reeling under a crisis due to high diesel prices.

KSRTC officials said 17 buses, including seven Volvo buses and eight Karnataka Sarige buses were damaged due to stone pelting in areas like Wilson Garden, Nelamangala, Mysuru Road, Adugodi and Madanayakanahalli. One KSRTC bus was damaged by protesters in Thrissur, Kerala.

“We incurred a revenue loss of Rs 2.4 crore on Wednesday due to cancellation of services,” said a KSRTC official. It also incurred loss of Rs 2.3 due to damages.

Vijaya Bhaskar, general secretary of the KSRTC Staff and Workers' Federation, said the strike was total. “A majority of staff participated,” Bhaskar said. “We are not behind incidents of stone-pelting. We had advised members not to resort to violence. Our protest was peaceful.”

Drivers treated in eye hospital

Three BMTC drivers sustained injuries when miscreants pelted stones near Chikkajala and Sadahalli Gate. Ajit Hulmani, Chandrashekar and Prakash were were shifted to a private eye hospital and were treated as out patients. “The stones damaged the windshields and glass pieces entered the eyes of the drivers,” police said. “Doctors removed the pieces and the drivers are fine.”

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News Network
March 22,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 22: An FIR has been registered against BJP MP Tejasvi Surya over a provocative hate post on social media, Election Commission officials said on Friday.

The move comes after a complaint filed by officials of the poll body and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that the Bengaluru South MP, who is also the President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, had in a post apparently targeted a minority and spread enmity between two communities.

He also made a similar post on March 19 on X and YouTube which went viral. He has 1.3 million followers on X, thereby influencing the voters and disturbing the communal harmony between the communities, it further alleged.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered at Halasuru Gate police station on March 20 under sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 295 A (Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act, the officials said.

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News Network
March 19,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 19: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that the Congress will split in three months after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and its impact will be visible on the Siddaramaiah-led state government.

"Due to internal squabbles, the state government will not last long," the BJP leader said.

Talking to reporters on Monday, he said the sitting MP from the Gadag-Haveri constituency, Shivakumar Udasi, has done a lot of development work and implemented the Central government's schemes effectively.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will surely become the PM for the third time. The overall response has been good in the Gadag-Haveri Lok Sabha constituency," the former Karnataka chief minister said.

Asked if he was contesting the election in a half-hearted manner in the Gadag-Haveri seat, Bommai said "such a question does not arise when the party's high command gives instructions".

He said he would respect his opponent and not take anyone lightly. 

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News Network
March 14,2024

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Udupi: In a freak mishap, a 65-year-old man lost his life after being hit by his own bus which was being repaired at a garage at Athrady in Udupi district on Wednesday, March 13.

The deceased has been identified as Dayanand Shetty, the owner of a private bus.

It is learnt that the bus had been kept for repairs at the garage and Dayanand had gone there to inspect the repair works.

At this time, the mechanic started the engine and the bus moved ahead. Dayanand, who was standing in front of the bus, came under its wheels.

He was immediately rushed to a hospital where he died without responding to the treatment. A case is registered at jurisdictional Manipal police station.

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