Maharashtra, Telangana buses come to the aid in Bidar

Partial resumption of bus services was reported in some parts of the state on Tuesday. While services resumed with police protection in some places, buses from other states plied to other places.

A few additional bus services were operated by the Udagir division of the Maharashtra Transport Corporation and the Zahirabad division of the Telangana Transport Corporation.

Several buses from Telangana operated between Hyderabad and the central bus stand in Bidar. Passengers bound for Hyderabad did not face any problem. A few buses from Maharashtra were operated up to Bhalki in Bidar district.

Buses from Maharashtra plied between Udagir and the Deshmukh tank in Aurad. Private buses were operated between Bidar and Kalaburagi. Several passengers were ferried in private cars, autos, maxi cabs and tum tum vehicles. 

The Bidar division suffered losses to the tune of Rs 90 lakh during the two-day strike. The divisional manager has contacted many of the employees over the phone, urging them to report for duty.

Two KSRTC buses were operated between Mandya and Maddur, with police security. The bus, which left Maddur depot for Mandya at 2.30 pm, ferried a few passengers. This instilled confidence among the passengers and more people boarded the bus on its return journey to Maddur.

However, a few miscreants threw stones at the bus at around 8 pm at the Maddur bus stand.

There are possibilities of bus services resuming from KR Pet, Malavalli and other places by evening. Four KSRTC buses operated from Mangaluru to Kasargod, Dharmasthala and Manipal.

The KSRTC resumed its services, utilising the available staff. A KSRTC bus with passengers arrived in Shivamogga from Sagar in the evening.

Travel agencies in Gadag reported losses as several people who had booked bus tickets to Bengaluru cancelled them. Reason: Once they reach Majestic bus stand in Bengaluru, they would have to shell out huge fares for autos to their destinations as the drivers are trying to make a fast buck, owing to the bus strike.

Poojary’s advice to siddu
Senior Congress leader Janardhana Poojary launched a tirade against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, blaming him for the inept handling of the bus strike.

Addressing reporters in Mangaluru, Poojary said Siddaramaiah should seek the advice of either Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes or Congress party leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge, who had served as union ministers for labour and employment in the past.

Poojary said he supported the demands put forth by the transport workers’ unions.
DH News Service

Conductor dies of heart attack
A bus conductor of the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation died of heart attack on Tuesday afternoon, while watching the news on TV regarding the strike by employees of the transport corporations.

The incident occurred at Guledagudda in Badami taluk of the district. The deceased, Abdul Farooq Hazrath Ali Attar, 28, died on the way to the Bagalkot hospital.

His mother said that he was deeply disturbed over the news that those employees not reporting for duty would be suspended and that the government would invoke the provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act. This may have caused the heart attack, it is said.