Even though more than half the Mysuru buses operated as usual, the mofussil bus services were hit hard in Mysuru due to the transport strike called by various trade unions in protest against the Union Government's Road Transport and Safety Bill.
KSRTC's Divisional Controller, Mysuru Urban, K. Ramamurthy told The Hindu that more than 220 buses scheduled out of the 400 were operated in Mysuru on Thursday. "More than fifty percent of the bus schedules plied. We will resume normal service in the afternoon", he said.
However, KSRTC's Divisional Controller, Mysuru Rural, Mahesh said the mofussil bus service was hit by the strike as a large number of employees remained absent in the morning. "Only 19 out of the 239 buses were operational today", he said.
Many drivers and conductors of buses, who had gathered outside the KSRTC bus depot on Nelson Mandela Road, said they will not be plying the mofussil buses in support of the strike call given by central trade unions.
But, Mr. Mahesh was also hopeful that the bus service will become normal by evening.
Except for a stray incident of a stone being thrown at a bus in Nazarbad, police said there was no trouble reported from anywhere on account of the strike.
Meanwhile, buses operated by private bus services on many busy routes were booked in advance.
Satish M.S., an employee of a civic body in Mysuru, who is scheduled to travel to Manipal, said many private buses were already full and are charging more for seats.
Meanwhile, autos and call taxis also plied in Mysuru normally. Shops, commercial establishments, banks, courts and other businesses functioned as usual on Thursday.
