Bengaluru Bandh On Sep 11: Will Schools, Namma Metro Be Closed? Will Cabs Be Available?

Bengaluru Bandh: Bengaluru is bracing for a major transport strike on Monday, i.e on September 11, with private transporters, including auto-rickshaws, taxis, and school-bus operators, set to join the strike.

The strike has been called by the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association, which has 32 member unions. The association has demanded that the state government meet their 30 demands, including a ban on bike taxis, financial aid for drivers, and the inclusion of private buses in the Shakti scheme.

The strike is expected to have a major impact on the city's transportation system.

According to reports, several schools in the city have already declared September 11 as a holiday, and passengers traveling to and from Kempegowda International Airport are advised to make alternative arrangements.

The transport minister, Ramalinga Reddy, has expressed the government's willingness to discuss the 30 demands, but the strike is still scheduled to go ahead.

Closed:

• Private Transport Services: Private transport services, including auto-rickshaws, taxis, and school-bus operators, will be closed due to the strike.
• Some Schools: Several schools in the city have declared September 11 as a holiday due to the strike. They have also rescheduled examinations.
• Airport Cabs: Airport cabs, including those from cab aggregators like Ola and Uber, will participate in the strike, affecting passengers traveling to and from Kempegowda International Airport.
• Private Cabs for Businesses: Private cabs serving IT-BT companies and other offices are also likely to participate in the strike.

Open:

• Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC): BMTC buses, including the Vayu Vajara airport service, will continue to operate as usual.
• Bengaluru Metro: Bengaluru Metro will run additional trains based on demand, ensuring that the metro service remains available.
• Discussions: The government has expressed its willingness to discuss the demands raised by the transport unions, indicating a potential for resolution.
• Additional Buses: Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy has instructed BMTC and KSRTC to deploy additional buses on September 11 to minimise passenger inconvenience.

Traffic Advisory

The Bengaluru traffic police has issued a traffic advisory in response to the call for a 'Bengaluru Bandh' by the Karnataka State Private Vehicles Owner Association. In accordance with this advisory, the police have recommended that the public plan their routes accordingly and avoid certain key areas, including KG Road, Sheshadri Road, GT Road, and the vicinity of Freedom Park and Majestic Bus Stand.

To ease traffic flow, the traffic police has suggested the following alternative routes for commuters:

For vehicles traveling from RR Junction to Khodays Circle: Divert towards Krishna Flour Mill and continue onward towards Malleshwaram.

For vehicles approaching from Goodshed Road: Proceed towards GT Road via Sangolli Rayanna Circle to reach Okalipuram, and then continue towards Sujatha Theatre.

For vehicles approaching from Ananda Rao Circle: Head towards Old JDS Office Road and reach Sheshadripuram Road.

For vehicles arriving from Mysuru Bank Circle: Make your way towards Palace Road, leading to the Maharani Junction underpass, and continue towards Basaveshwara Circle.