The indefinite bus strike called by the transport employee unions was called off on Wednesday. The employee unions led by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) having organised a protest meeting on Pallavan Salai near the Pallavan House called off the strike call on Wednesday noon based on the directions of the Madras High Court and taking into consideration the thousands of commuters who would be facing hardships during the Pongal festival to be celebrated on January 15.
CITU leader A. Soundararajan talking to press persons at a meeting held at Pallavan Salai said based on the talks held with representatives of the employee unions involved in the indefinite strike, which had entered the second day, it has been temporarily called off till January 19. The employee unions would take a decision to proceed with the strike based on the outcome of the conciliation talks to be held by the Labour department after January 19, he added.
The Transport Department on Wednesday maintained regular bus services in all parts of Chennai and the State by operating nearly 15,777 buses out of the 15,987 buses which it would operate regularly till noon time.
While during the morning hours the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai operated 3,177 buses against 3,233 buses it would operate, during the second shift of noon time it operated 2,548 buses against 2,557 on Wednesday.
A senior official of the MTC said the 3,177 buses were the highest services operated in a year as more than 10% of the buses would not be operated due to want of bus crew. The operation of the highest services was made possible by the management taking all steps to utilising the services of the drivers and conductors who were on long leave or were facing some disciplinary actions.
The usual crowds, comprising mostly office-goers however, seemed to stay away, with the occupancy mostly that of school students and women commuters.
M. Arunkumar of Thirumullaivoyal, who works at a private office in Adyar, said the frequency of bus services from the Chennai Central station to Chintadripet had come down, resulting in hardships to commuters who wanted to catch the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) trains to Thiruvanmaiyur.
The remaining seven State Transport Corporations operated 99% bus services with the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) maintaing 100% by operating 188, Villupuram 2,757 (2,792); Salem 1,451 of 1,464; Coimbatore 2,189 of 2,269; Kumbakonam 2,877 of 2,921; Madurai 2,136 of 2,166 and Tirunelveli 1,631 of 1,632.
The Department had warned the unions that those participating in the stir would be facing action as per the law.
