The nation-wide strike call given by certain trade unions against the new Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014 did not hit normal life in Tiruchi, Perambalur, and Ariyalur districts even as the day was marked by protest against the bill.
State transport corporation buses and private buses plied as usual in the city and elsewhere in the district with goods carriers and autos being operated.
The country-wide strike call was given by the Left-backed CITU and AITUC besides Hind Mazdoor Sabha and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh in protest against the new bill.
The unions feared that the bill would eventually pave the way for corporatisation of both passenger and goods transport segments and vehemently opposed the hefty fines proposed for the violators. It would eventually lead to scrapping of issue of free bus passes for students and elders, a CITU member here said.
Town and mofussil buses were operated from the Central and Chathram bus stands in the city where several autorickshaws plied on the busy thoroughfares.
Police sources said there were no disruption in movement of government buses, autorickshaws and other private vehicles in the district.
However, CITU sources said members of the union operating vans, trucks, autorickshaws, cars, and State Transport Corporation abstained from work in the district in the wake of the nationwide strike call. Sand lorries and trucks engaged by IOC terminals remained off the road.
Members of the Salai Pokuvarathu Thozhilalar Sangam and Auto Drivers Sangam affiliated to the CITU staged a demonstration near the Collectorate here on Thursday expressing their opposition to the new bill.
Police sources said buses and other vehicles operated as usual in Perambalur and Ariyalur districts as well. Nevertheless, step police personnel were deployed in front of government bus depots in Tiruchi and Ariyalur districts and pickets posted at vantage places.
Strike was called to oppose new Road Safety and Transport Bill 2014
Unions fear corporatisation of goods and passenger transport
