The strike by employees of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation put commuters and passengers into much hardship here. Worst hit were those proceeding to rural pockets from Tiruchi.
While many chose to put off their travel plans, those who were midway through their journey faced a torrid time.
Karuppaiah, a farm labourer of Ariyalur district was caught unawares after having landed at the Central Bus Stand here from Madurai along with his wife Tamizharasi who had undergone an eye operation recently and another relative of his.
The trio were on their way to their native village near Jayamkondam. “We managed to land here from Madurai by a private bus. But now we don’t know how we can go to our village,” said an anxious Karuppaiah.
The farm labourer kept making frantic inquiries at the bus stand wanting to know if there would be bus service to Jayamkondam from the Chathram Bus Stand. It was equally a testing time for Marudhamuthu, a native of Thammampatti village near Thuraiyur.
After having made a smooth landing at Tiruchi from Muscat by flight on Friday morning, Marudhamuthu reached the Central Bus Stand only to realise that there was no service to his native village.
With his luggage, Marudhamuthu kept waiting at the bus stand along with his wife and his minor son for some time. “We have to hop and go to our native village else we would be forced to hire a cab to reach our home”, he said.
Azhagammal, a senior citizen, reached the Central Bus Stand from Ponamaravathy in Pudukottai district. However, the woman who was to proceed to Somarasampet on the city’s outskirts found it difficult in the absence of moffusil bus services. “I am waiting for my son to pick me and don’t know when I would reach”, she said.
The strike put school students and those proceeding to colleges in a quandary. Many school students were forced to ask for a free ride in Tiruchi to reach their institution and others were forced to walk to their respective institution.
Canvassers of some private omni buses kept moving across the bus stand inviting passengers. However, there were not many takers for Chennai-bound buses in the morning hours as many travellers had put off their plans.
