CHENNAI: The state wide bandh called by DMK and other opposition parties demanding to constitute Cauvery management board (CMB) hit the bus and train transportation in several parts of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.
Train No. 56718 Tirunelveli - Nagercoil passenger was stopped by agitators between Tirunelveli and Sankaralingapuram near Tamarabarani bridge. The train was detained for an hour and 150 agitators were arrested by the police.
As a result of this rail roko, Chennai bound Guruvayur Express and Thiruvananthapuram bound Ananthapuri Express were delayed for 90 minutes.
In another similar incident, DMK supporters blocked the Jolarpettai – Erode Passenger at Magundanchavadi and Chennai – Coimbatore Kovai Express stopped at Morappur.
While the Erode bound passenger train resumed service after 20 minutes, the protestors detained Kovai Express for more than 30 minutes.
More than 20 Express trains across the state were delayed by 30 to 90 minutes due to various rail roko protests.
In Chennai, six EMU suburban trains were stopped by agitators at Avadi for more than 15 minutes, leading to disruption of train services between Chennai and Tiruvallur. Two EMU trains also help up at Chennai Park station for ten minutes.
About 45 percent of MTC buses did not ply in Chennai city, while 30 percent of mofussil buses operated by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) also participated in the strike.
Earlier, ten transport corporation workers unions including Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF),All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) affiliated to CPM, DMK, CP and Congress have extended their support to strike.
However, MTC officials claimed that about 98 percent of buses operated in Chennai city.
J Ramanujam, President of Thozhargal Car Ottunargal Amaippu Sara Thozhirsangam said nearly 10,000 cab OLA and UBEr drivers participated in the strike.