Commuters suffered a lot as the transport workers affiliated to various trade unions joined the State-wide strike on Monday after their talks with the government seeking wage settlement, disbursal of retirement benefits etc. failed.
While the trade unions of left parties, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Indian National Congress and other smaller outfits participated in the strike, the ruling party-backed Anna Thozhir Sangam members came forward to operate the buses.
“However, they (ATS members) could operate only less than 35% of the total number of buses usually operated from Tirunelveli,” claimed the striking trade union office-bearers.
Of the 412 buses usually operated from 9 depots in rural Tirunelveli, only 139 buses were operated and 102 of the 259 buses alone were operated from the 4 depots in Palayamkottai till 10 a.m. “This number dwindled further around 2 p.m.,” claimed the trade union leaders.
However, Collector M. Karunakaran, who visited the TNSTC’s ‘Tamirabharani depot’ near the Circuit House in Vannarpet along with Tirunelveli MP K.R.P. Prabhakaran shortly after noon for the second time on Monday, said 62% buses were being operated in Tirunelveli district.
While the commutersin small towns Valliyoor, Nanguneri or Alangulam, all having bus terminuses, could board the buses with great difficulty, the passengers in small villages en route suffered a lot as the crowded buses were not stopped in these places.
Students of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University appearing for the examinations on Monday suffered a lot as they had to reach the examination centres either by private buses or by two-wheelers.
Meanwhile, the TNSTC recruited drivers and conductors on a temporary basis on Monday. He said no wages have been fixed for the temporary workers.
Since most of the conductors have joined the strike, the officials have planned to make use of the services of NSS volunteers from MSU and volunteers of Indian Red Cross and Nehru Yuva Kendra to assuage the crisis.
Though the office-bearers of the unions had announced that they would block the buses, they did not do so.
Police personnel in large numbers had been deployed in front of the depots and also in the bus-stands. However, no untoward incident was reported.
Thoothukudi
In neighbouring Thoothukudi district, only 30% of the 310 buses were operated on Monday. Of the 312 buses being operated from eight depots, only 124 buses could be operated in view of the strike, in which 232 of the 301 drivers participated.
Only 12 of the 44 technicians reported for duty. Hence, the officials were forced to recruit drivers on temporary basis.
Since private buses are being operated to Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti and Tiruchendur, the commuters did not suffer a lot.
