Private transport operators called off their strike following assurances by Transport Minister B. Ramalinga Reddy to address their concerns and demands.
On September 11, most autorickshaws, cabs and private buses stayed off roads in Bengaluru in response to a call by Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association. It is estimated that around 7-10 lakh transport vehicles operated by private persons or companies, that are part of 32 unions, stayed off the roads across Karnataka. The unions wanted the Karnataka government to fulfil their list of 28 demands.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy went to meet the protestors at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. “As we have conveyed to the federation earlier, we will definitely constitute a welfare board for drivers. I have also spoken to BBMP Chief Civic Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath about establishing an Indira Canteen at the airport for the benefit of taxi drivers. We will also definitely set up an aggregator app, as we are aware that aggregator companies are taking 50% of your earnings,” he told them.
