A large number of private carriers, including buses, maxicabs, SUVs and taxis were found ferrying passengers from Mysuru to different destinations as the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation employees began their indefinite strike on Monday.
None of the more than 1,000 KSRTC buses operating on the city or mofussil routes in Mysuru operated on Monday in response to the strike call given by KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation demanding a hike in salaries.
But, responding to a call given by the district administration, private carriers lined up outside the mofussil bus stand here and ferried passengers to various destinations, including nearby Nanjangud and Chamarajanagar to Bengaluru, Kolar, Hassan, Shivamogga and Chitradurga.
A few private operators were also seen picking up passengers to different destinations in Kodagu district and Kerala.
While a SUV plying between Mysuru and Nanjangud was charging Rs. 30 per person, which was equal to the KSRTC ticket fare, private carriers to Bengaluru were collecting Rs. 150.
“Unlike KSRTC buses, which drop passengers at the satellite bus stand on Mysore Road in Bengaluru, I will be dropping them in Majestic for Rs. 150,” said the driver of a private vehicle proceeding towards Bengaluru.
Private carriers had turned up in large numbers outside the mofussil bus stand and stationed themselves along the Bengaluru-Nilgiri Road, calling out to travellers to various destinations.
There appeared to be too many private carriers, but fewer passengers. “In view of the strike, many passengers had cancelled their travel plans”, KSRTC (Rural) Divisional Controller Mahesh M. told The Hindu .
When asked about private operators plying on nationalised routes against the government rules, Transport Department officials said they had received instructions to not only allow private buses on all routes, but to actively persuade them to ply their buses on all routes to ensure that the travelling public is not affected by the strike.
However, the state-owned road transport corporation buses belonging to neighbouring Kerala and Tamil Nadu operated without any hindrance to Mysuru.
They dropped and picked up passengers from the mofussil bus stand on Monday.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) H.T. Shekar told The Hindu that the strike was by and large peaceful. “There were no untoward incidents reported in Mysuru,” he said adding that private carriers had stepped in to minimise the inconvenience to travellers.
To a question, he said that the city police had not received any complaints from commuters against private carriers demanding excess fare.
The commuters have been requested to lodge a complaint with the police against errant transporters.
The police control room can be contacted on 0821-2418339 and 2418100.
