Most of the educational institutions, corporate houses, malls, cinemas and banks remained closed. As the BMTC decided to suspend its services, some autorickshaw and taxi drivers had a field day charging exorbitant fares from passengers, especially at the railway stations. Shops and small businesses in some areas also did brisk business.
Ambulances, police vehicles and a few two-wheelers and cars were the other visible exceptions on some City roads. Various government hospitals wore a deserted look with very few patients arriving for treatment.
Buses damaged
Stray incidents of stone-pelting were also reported from some areas. Over five buses were damaged at the Jayanagar bus depot. About 15 buses were targeted by miscreants on Sunday night and Monday morning. However, train services remained unaffected.
Ashutosh Rath from Orissa, who landed at the City Railway Station around 11.45 am, said he decided to stay put at the station until 6 pm as taxis and autorickshaws were charging huge fares.
Another passenger from Ranchi who travelled in the Shatabdi Express said: “They (autorickshaws) are demanding Rs 400 to go to Basavanagudi, which is much higher than the normal rate. So, I’ve asked my friend to pick me up.”
Taxi services from Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) at Devanahalli to the City operated throughout the day, except for about two hours between 10.30 am to 12.15 pm. But thousands of passengers were stranded at the airport as only 20 per cent of the taxis plied between the BIA and the City.
The police took into custody 20 MLAs, including Shobha Karandlaje, C T Ravi, Vijay Kumar, Muniraju and P C Mohan, along with 50 other party workers. They were released later. The ruling BJP in the State described the bundh as highly successful. “The entire country stands united in this fight against rising prices,” said party general secretary H N Anant Kumar
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