Kol bus and B'lore auto strike brought twin cities to a grinding halt

Kolkata/Bangalore, Jan 7:The two cities of Kolkata and Bangalore may be different, but they protested for a common reason-hike in petrol prices. They wore a deserted look yesterday as the former announced a 24 hours bus strike and the latter announced an auto strike, bringing the cities to a standstill.

The public transport unions in Kolkata, unaware of the problems of the daily passengers, went ahead with their agenda of increasing the bus fares, following the hike in petrol prices. Bangalore, however, restricted itself to protesting the LPG price hike.

However, the twin strikes caused a lot of problems for office goers, school children and daily labourers as both the means of transports are considered to be the lifeline of the cities.

Train passengers, especially felt the heat when they were forced to carry their luggages and walk for long hours before they got conveyance. The respective state governments had their own way of handling the situation.

While the Karnataka government plied 250 extra buses on the roads, the West Bengal government supplemented the transport system with the state buses. Nevertheless, the overcrowded buses and late attendance in offices spoke a lot of the common man's inconvenience.

In Kolkata

People walk to their destination as no vehicle available due to Transport strike in Kolkata.

In Kolkata

Deserted look at Howrah city flyover due to 'Transport Strike' called by all private bus, minibus & others vechiles owners.

In Kolkata

State Transport Minster Madan Mitra(L) talk to passengers in a bus during private bus strike in Kolkata on Monday.

In Howrah

Transport Strike of private bus and minibus in West Bengal, leaving people stranded on the roads, on Monday.