The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus services across the State were severely affected on Friday following the 24-hour strike called by a section of unions in protest against the delay in salary disbursal.
The KSRTC bus depots across the State were deserted as majority of the employees stayed away from work. Though the corporation maintained that around 700 services were operated till 9 a.m., the employees’ unions said the strike was almost total. Only a few city and super fast services which were on the route from the previous day operated.
In Kochi, hundreds of passengers remained stranded at the nine bus depots in Ernakulam following the strike. Only five bus services - four ordinary and a fast passenger - operated trips in the entire district on the day. All services from Ernakulam depot, including superfast and inter-State buses, were affected as only two drivers turned up for duty. Even members of the CITU-affiliated union, which was not participating in the strike, kept away from duty on the day, said a senior officer.
