In the battle of egos between the State government and the striking transport trade unions affiliated to opposition parties, the commuters have become the scapegoat with public transport remaining paralysed for the fifth day in succession. Despite the Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabaskar issuing a threat that the government would take departmental action against the striking employees from Tuesday, the trade unions did not budge from their stand and resolved to continue with the strike till their demands are met.
In several places, transport workers joined by their family members staged a dharna in front of bus depots.
In Chennai, all important bus stops including Chennai Central, Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus, Broadway, Vyasarpadi, Thiruvanmiyur and Avadi wore a deserted look. Office-goers and students in particular were put to a lot of hardship. While the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) claimed that 50% of the buses were in service, only a few were visible on arterial roads. Lack of small buses also caused inconvenience to commuters in the interior areas.
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A senior MTC official MTC said more than 5,600 charge memos seeking explanation have been issued to employees following which which 235 persons have come back to work. The MTC has around 24,000 employees, he added.
Besides office-goers and students, people planning to visit their native place to celebrate Pongal by taking government buses were also put to a lot of hardship, as the advance booking facility for special services, supposed to open from Tuesday is yet to be started.
A senior official of the State transport department, when asked about the proposed operation of more than 12,000 buses for the Pongal festival, refused to comment.
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While the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) claimed that 50% of buses were in service, only a few were visible on arterial roads. Lack of small buses also caused inconvenience to commuters in the interior areas.
The Southern Railway, which has been chipping in with 30 additional suburban train services on all the four sections including the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) from Chennai Beach to Velachery offered the only succour for the harassed commuters.
However, a technical snag in the overhead electric line at the Chennai Beach railway station led to the disruption of MRTS services for more than an hour.
A senior official of Southern Railway said a loco driver, on noticing a live overhead electric wire hanging near the Chennai Beach railway station, forced the officials to take up inspection of the entire section, which led to holding up of three pairs of services between Chennai Beach and Velachery.
The Southern Railway had on Monday announced operation of four pairs of additional train services on the MRTS section. Commuters are also seeking opening of additional ticket counters in all the railway stations to cope with the rush.
Meanwhile, a special bench of the High Court would hear on Wednesday cases related to the ongoing strike.