Normal life will be affected yet again in Bengaluru as autorickshaws, buses, cabs and airport taxis will be off roads on Friday due to the state-wide bandh called by various organisations. They are protesting against the Supreme Court order on Cauvery water dispute with Tamil Nadu. The bandh call comes after the all-India bandh that was organised just last week.
The unions of the four state transport corporations — KSRTC, BMTC, KSERTC and KSWRTC — autorickshaw drivers, and taxi drivers unions, have pledged to join the bandh on Sept. 9. Academic institutions will take a decision on Thursday on whether they would remain open or not. Movie theatres and malls may also remain shut on Friday.
More than 1,100 pro-Kannada associations have supported the state-wide strike, Federation of Kannada Organizations president Vatal Nagaraj said.
"We have informed private companies about the inconvenience," said Radhakrishna Holla of the Bengaluru Tourist Taxi Owners' Association. As many as 60,000 taxis will be off roads between 6 am and 6 pm on Friday.
"We have asked all drivers of company vehicles, airport taxis and other cabs to voluntarily stay off the roads on Friday. All our services to and from the airport will be disrupted," said MP Ramesh, general secretary , Karnataka State Motor Cab and Maxi Cab Welfare Association. However, Ola and Uber said that their taxis will be available, the Times of India reported.
No Kannada movies will be released this Friday and no shooting will take place until the bandh is lifted.
KSRTC buses will not ply between Bengaluru and Mysore (now Mysuru) on Friday. The bus services had only begun working between the two cities on Thursday after remaining shut for two days.
Buses headed to Mysore via Hosur road remain unaffected, but those plying via the Mysore road will be suspended.
