CHENNAI: About 40 per cent of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses were not operated in Chennai on Thursday, as transport workers unions affiliated to opposition parties participated in the State-wide bandh, called by the DMK, demanding constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), MTC sources said.However, transportation remained largely unaffected as many business establishments, commercial complexes and small traders across Chennai city remained shut.The MTC fleet strength was reduced by half at Ayanavaram, Tiruvanmiyur, Chrompet, Saidapet, Guindy, Tambaram and Velachery bus depots, where CITU and LPF workers were largely employed.
Buses in Perambur, Ayanavaram, Purasawalkam, Chrompet, Egmore and Guindy were operated with full complement of passengers only between 8 am and 9.30 am. From 11 am, all the buses were operated with 50 to 70 per cent of occupancy and bus terminals, depots and bus stands also remained less crowded.
While the workers unions said more than 60 per cent of the buses were not operated, MTC officials claimed that 98 per cent of buses ran on Thursday.
“The commuters demand for buses came down compared to other days as more than 98 per cent of shops and markets closed; schools were also closed for holidays. However, opposition union workers participated fully in the bandh,” said M Balasubramanian of CITU.Similarly, though a section of cab drivers affiliated to Thozhargal Car Ottunargal Amaippu Sara Thozhirsangam participated in the bandh, OLA and UBER cabs were operated with regular tariff till 5.30 pm. The cab aggregators fare increased by 15 per cent after 6 pm.
M Chandran, general secretary of CITU-affiliated Tamil Nadu Auto Drivers association, said the bandh was silently supported by a majority of the people because of which they restricted their travel. “Majority of auto drivers also participated in the strike. But, we did not hear any complaints from the public, “ he added.
Stalin claims bandh as successful
Chennai: DMK working president M K Stalin claimed that the bandh on Thursday was a total success as vast majority of the general public, students, workers and traders extended cooperation to the agitation, which went off peacefully. Replying to a question regarding CM Palaniswami’s claim that the Governor was satisfied with affairs of the State, Stalin recalled that Governor had shared with him the information of misgovernance a week ago. The Governor has been moving on a separate track only because he has lost confidence in the government, Stalin said
CPM alleges police excess during bandh
Chennai: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) alleged that the policemen had assaulted a senior leader of the party while he was leading a protest in Nagapattinam during the bandh on Thursday. “The Deputy Superintendent of Police in Nagapattinam pushed down the protesters in Nagapattinam. Our party’s state secretariat member P Shanmugam was injured after he was pushed down,” K Balakrishnan, State secretary, CPM, said in a statement. He noted that the police excess was reported from some other places too. Balakrishnan also stated that RSS cadre had assaulted his partymen
Jayakumar, Tamilisai decry Oppn agitations
Chennai: Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday decried the agitations staged by opposition parties demanding formation of the Cauvery Management Board. Referring to the DMK agitation, the minister said, “Democratic forms of agitation like hunger strikes and public meetings are allowed, but today DMK men engaged in pelting stones on public properties, including State-owned buses, and are trying to create law and order problems