An ‘unofficial bandh’ following the pronouncement of verdict by the special court in Bangalore in the disproportionate assets case against AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa threw life haywire for the common people here since Saturday afternoon.
Sensing trouble, shops and hotels downed shutters minutes before the verdict at 3 p.m. while buses were confined to depots as a safety measure.
While TASMAC outlets were closed down, petrol bunks were swarmed by crowds.
Hundreds of commuters were stranded at Mattuthavani bus stand as the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation buses and omni-buses went off the roads.
The bus stand wore a deserted look and share auto rickshaws fleeced the public. As the number of autos plying on the roads came down, the rate went up exorbitantly.
For instance, at 5 p.m., share autos collected Rs.100 per person for a trip from Mattuthavani to Periyar bus stand. For Teppakulam, the one-way rate was Rs.50 per person.
Those who could not afford the exorbitant fares preferred to walk. Long-distance buses to southern districts dropped the passengers at Mattuthavani itself following instructions from the police and transport officials.
“We have deployed 60 additional police personnel at the bus stand. Buses are being regulated for safety of passengers,” said N. Harish, Assistant Commissioner of Police.
At the nearby omni-bus stand, a large number of ticket cancellations were reported as passengers going to Chennai cancelled their trip.
An employee with an omni-bus operator, Madurai Radhaa Travels, said that 30 per cent of tickets were cancelled between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. and hence a few buses had to be cancelled for Saturday night.
A. Mydeen Basha of Lucky Travels, president of Madurai Omni-Bus and Travel Owners’ Association, said that all private travels had decided to cancel buses for Saturday night.
