The Federation of Private Transport Associations in Bangalore has decided to call off the ‘Bangalore Bandh’ after the Karnataka government assured them of fulfilling their demands. The strike had disrupted the private transport system in the IT capital as cabs, taxis, and other private buses ceased operations in the morning. Let’s see what were the key demands of the private transport association and whether the government can meet them or not.
What Were the Key Demands of the Private Transport Associations?
The primary demand of the transport unions was the extension of the government’s Shakti scheme to include private transport providers in the state. They argued that the free transport scheme for women had severely impacted their livelihoods. However, the government had previously expressed that extending the Shakti scheme to private buses was practically unfeasible.
Additionally, auto unions called for a ban on bike taxis in Karnataka, as they believed it was affecting their income. The government stated that they would seek legal opinions on this demand. Other demands included the establishment of a welfare board for drivers, insurance coverage for auto drivers, and the implementation of a lifetime tax on commercial goods vehicles. In total, the unions presented 30 demands to the transport department during previous meetings.
The Path to Resolution
Prior to the strike, transport unions had engaged in discussions with State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on July 24, just three days before the initially scheduled protest on July 27. However, Minister Reddy had indicated that he would bring the issues to the attention of the chief minister for further discussion. After not receiving a response from the government, the associations decided to proceed with the one-day strike on September 11. It was only after Minister Ramalinga Reddy promised to address their demands that the bandh was called off on Monday afternoon, marking a successful resolution for the private transport associations.
