The Bengaluru-Mysuru highway witnessed a huge volume of vehicular traffic on Tuesday owing to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) strike, which entered its second day.
According to the Department of Public Works, Ports, Inland and Water Transport, the vehicular density— both cars and motorcycles— on the highway had increased by at least 35 per cent.
According to an official, people used their own vehicles to reach their destinations owing to the strike and this contributed to the increase in vehicular movement.
The vehicular density on the highway, between Bengaluru and Mysuru, is around 55,000 passenger car unit (PCU) on normal days. Another major contributor for the increase in vehicles was private bus and cab operators demanding excess fare at all towns between Bengaluru and Mysuru. Hence, commuters felt that it would be cheaper to use their own vehicles to reach nearby places.
M. Deepak and C. Nagesh, who stay near the Mandya Milk Manufacturers’ Union Limited (MANMUL) at Gejjalagere in Maddur taluk, said that they came on a motorcycle from Bengaluru as private cab operators demanded Rs. 200 per person.
On Tuesday too, commuters preferred to travel by trains between Mysuru and Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, the Police Department has continued to deploy police platoons in front of all depots and bus stations in Mandya and Ramanagaram districts, where KSRTC buses are parked.
