The 24-hour nationwide transport strike called by various trade unions against the Road Transport and Safety Bill is likely to affect normal life across the coastal districts on Thursday. Crew of private buses and autorickshaw operators have decided to participate in the strike. KSRTC staff have also decided to join the strike.
Though private bus owners had decided not to support the strike, the crew decided otherwise in the light of hefty penalty proposed for various offences in the Bill as well as corporatisation of the public transport sector.
The Motor Transport and Engineering Workers Union of Dakshina Kannada district has, in a release here, said that the workers would participate in the strike.
Terming the Bill disastrous for the transport sector, union general secretary Vasanth Achary said that the proposals also included imprisonment of drivers for road accidents. As such, all workers have decided to abstain from work for a day.
Meanwhile, private buses in the district, including city and express services, sported stickers declaring “Bus Bandh Tomorrow”.
Rajesh, a conductor on a private service bus, said that crew of all buses would participate in the strike.
Meanwhile, Federation of Karnataka Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union too has supported the strike call. District unit president Sunil Kumar Bajal said in a release that the drivers would join the agitation as the Bill is anti-worker. Sources in KSRTC said that though services are likely to be affected during the day, they would become normal in the evening.
