BENGALURU: Normal life is likely to be affected in Bengaluru and the rest of Karnataka on Monday as many services will be unavailable in the wake of the Bharat Bandh called by the Congress over rising fuel prices. However, essential services like milk supply, hospitals and medical services will not be affected.
Anticipating a total shutdown and as a precautionary measure, several schools and colleges have declared a holiday.
Barring Namma Metro, all forms of transport are going to take a massive hit during the bandh to be observed between 9am and 3pm. The state road transport buses will remain off the roads as the KSRTC Staff and Workers Association has extended its support for the bandh. Hence, services by all state-run transport corporations - BMTC, KSRTC, NWKRTC, NEKRTC - will be hit.
Various cab associations are supporting the bandh. Although autorickshaw unions have said they are not backing it, getting an auto could be tough.The worst affected could be air passengers headed to the airport as Airport Taxi Owners’ Association members have threatened to block the approach route near the toll plaza to stop all vehicles — cabs as well as private vehicles — going to the airport. Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has sent out a message to air passengers that they report to the airport at least four hours before their scheduled flight departure.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has said Metro services will run but they will keep commuter safety in mind. Adequate security arrangements are in place at all the Metro rail stations, officials said.JD(S), the coalition partner of Congress in the state, has extended its support for the bandh along with trade union outfits like All India Trade Union Congress and Centre of Indian Trade Unions. M
WHAT IS OFF
Schools, colleges: Most institutions to remain closed
BMTC/KSRTC: Will stay off the roads
Cabs: Won’t ply
WHAT IS ON
Hospitals, medical services
Milk supply
Metro Rail: Will function, but commute to/from station may be a problem
Suburban trains Additional RPF deployed
Autorickshaws
As they run on LPG, not affected by petrol, diesel price hike