Bandh hits banking services

he one-day bandh called by the trade unions in protest against the proposed changes in labour laws hits sanitation, banking and other services in the city on Wednesday. Employees and students had tough time in reaching their work places and schools respectively, with most of the auto-rickshaws staying off the road.

Though a few public sector banks continued operations, the usual hustle-bustle was missing at majority of the bank branches as empty office greeted the customers. Cash transactions at many banks were affected due to the strike. Many people faced inconvenience in withdrawing money from their accounts as salaries were deposited on Tuesday. Most of them had to depend on ATMs where serpentine queues were witnessed.

Similarly, commercial establishments had a harrowing time as cash deposits, issue of demand drafts, Real Time Gross Settlement system and few other services were crippled due to the bandh. On the civic front, majority of the municipal workers participated in the bandh and garbage clearance was hit in several areas in the city.

Apart from residential areas, garbage was piled up at Rythu Bazaars, Rajiv Gandhi vegetable market, Kaleswara Rao market and other commercial hubs. Of the 4,000-odd sanitation staff, only 500 turned up for duties, said a senior official.

Though a few workers unions participated in the strike, RTC authorities claimed all the buses were operated as per schedule. RTC contract workers, especially those involved in cleaning and maintenance of bus stations, staged demonstrations at Pandit Nehru Bus Station. Sporting black badges, they raised slogans against the government.

Operations at many workshops in Autonagar – the industrial hub-- were affected as workers boycotted their duties. Likewise, many industries in JRD Tata Industrial Estate remained shut. While, a few industries shut operations voluntarily, unions leaders made the others to down shutters for the day, said Ramesh Babu, chairman of JRD Tata Industrial Estate.

Earlier in the day, the trade unions activists took out a rally from the Ratham Centre to Sub Collector’s office.

Auto-rickshaw stay off roads, while RTC buses operate as usual in the city