Opposing the Shakti scheme, which offers free rides for women in non-premium bus services of the road transport corporations (RTCs), 23 private transport unions and federations have decided to call for a Bengaluru bandh, where no autorickshaws, taxis, and private buses will ply for 24 hours, on July 27.
Arguing that the scheme has hit them hard, they have put forth a series of demands. While autorickshaw and taxi drivers have demanded compensation, private bus owners have demanded that the government implement the Shakti scheme even in private buses too and reimburse them for tickets issued to women. Auto drivers and owners’ unions are demanding a ban on illegal bike taxis across the city. They also want to ban aggregators who charge more than 5% commission of the total fare.
The unions plan to take out a rally from Sangolli Rayanna Circle to Freedom Park at 10.30 a.m. and stage a protest there till 7 p.m. “Private buses plying to and from other States and parts of Karnataka will not reach or leave Bengaluru on July 27,” said S. Natraj Sharma, president, Karnataka State Private Transport Associations.
