K'taka's Congress govt in trouble due to Shakti Scheme! Private transport unions hold strike against govt

Ever since the Shakti scheme, the free bus travel for women in Karnataka was implemented, the private players in the transport industry have been complaining that they are severely hit due to the scheme. They also met the transport minister earlier and asked to include private buses in the Shakti scheme and compensate them for the losses.

NewsBharati 11-Sep-2023 12:44:19 PM

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A bandh has been called by the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association in Bengaluru on Monday. The protestors from 32 private transport unions are holding a protest march from the city’s Majestic area to the Freedom Park.

The federation, which includes unions of bus, auto and taxi drivers, among others, called the strike over the state government’s “failure” to fulfill their demands, including a ban on cab aggregator apps. The federation comprises a total of 32 private transport associations, and due to this, most of the private transport services are unavailable amid the strike.

However, in the wake of the bandh today, as cabs, autorickshaws and private buses stay off the roads, BMTC buses and Namma Metro are undertaking additional trips. The private bus, taxi, and auto unions have called for a shut-down from Sunday midnight to Monday midnight. The Bengaluru traffic police has issued a traffic advisory for the public to plan accordingly.

Why are private transporters protesting?

The private transporters have claimed that they have been negatively impacted by the Shakti scheme and that the state government has not fulfilled their demands despite repeated discussions.

VIDEO | Members of Karnataka Transport Union stage protest against state government's 'Shakti Scheme' in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/ObI0LTCaMZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 11, 2023

Ever since the Shakti scheme, the free bus travel for women in Karnataka was implemented, the private players in the transport industry have been complaining that they are severely hit due to the scheme. They also met the transport minister earlier and asked to include private buses in the Shakti scheme and compensate them for the losses.

Earlier, transport unions had held discussions with state transport minister Ramalinga Reddy on July 24, just three days before they initially scheduled a protest for July 27. At that time, Reddy had assured them that 28 out of their 30 demands would be met by the end of August.

#BengaluruBandh today!

•Karnataka state private vehicles owners association have called for bandh on 11.09.2023.

•Auto, Taxi, Cab & Private buses to not run on streets today.

•This strike in protest of Shakti scheme which offers free travel facilities to women on buses.…
— Facts (@BefittingFacts) September 11, 2023

However, the Karnataka transport minister Ramalinga Reddy then said that he will take it to the notice of the chief minister and discuss the issues with him. After not hearing back from the government, the associations decided to go on a strike for a day on September 11.

What will be closed?

All private airport taxis.

People who are heading to the airport must make their own arrangements or use the BMTC Vayu Vajra bus services to the airport.

Ola, Uber and other cabs

The app-based cabs have already announced their support for the strike and said that they will be off-road on Monday.

Autorickshaws

The auto rickshaw unions are also participating in the strike and the autos which are the crucial part of Bengaluru’s commute system will stay away from services.