Hartal evokes mixed response in district

Shops, educational institutions remain closed; Kochi metro operates services as usual

Police vehicles were pressed into service to pick up the arriving passengers at Ernakulam Junction railway station on Friday.

The hartal called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) evoked mixed response in the district. Shops and other establishments, and educational institutions remained closed. Public transport largely remained off the road though private vehicles were out in large numbers.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operated 35 services to Pampa from the Ernakulam depot and South railway station before resuming normal service after 6 p.m. The State Water Transport Department cut short the number of services owing to low passenger turnout.

While Kochi metro operated as usual, the patronage was much low compared to services on normal days as it logged 20,258 passengers till 6 p.m. Attendance was very poor at the civil station while many offices didn’t open. However, Infopark was hardly affected by the hartal. While conveyance in police convoy was arranged from Palarivattom, there were few takers as most employees turned up in their own vehicles as usual. Around 80% attendance was reported at Infopark and Cochin Shipyard Limited.

Protest march

Meanwhile, BJP workers took out a protest march from Town Hall to High Court Junction. Cochin International Airport Limited more or less operated as usual with private vehicles and pre-paid taxis operating with the ‘airport’ label.

Say No To Hartal volunteers organised conveyance for passengers who got stranded at railway stations. Though hotels and restaurants downed shutters, food delivery over mobile apps was by and large intact.

A protest against frequent hartals was staged by motorcycle-bound youngsters at Panayikkulam. In Nellikkuzhi near Kothamangalam, all shops were opened in a show of solidarity against hartals.