Bus strike enters third day in Karnataka; schools remain shut

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has ruled out more than 10 percent wage increase as against 30-35 percent hike demand by unions of the four corporations (KSRTC, NWRTC, NERTC and BMTC).

A man pulls a cart loaded with luggage at the main bus terminus during a statewide strike of buses in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru: Schools and colleges across Karnataka remained closed on Wednesday too, as indefinite strike by over a lakh employees of the state-run road transport corporations for a wage hike entered the third day today.

With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ruling out more than 10 percent wage increase as against 30-35 percent hike demand by unions of the four corporations (KSRTC, NWRTC, NERTC and BMTC), commuting was severely affected on the second day, as 23,000 buses remained in depots in the absence of drivers, conductors and support staff.

Though the state transport department has permitted maxi cabs, vans, and private buses to operate services on all routes, they were inadequate and crowded due to their erratic timings.

Meanwhile, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd continued to operate more services on the east-west corridor from 5 am to 11 pm at a five-minute frequency to mitigate the hardship of thousands of commuters despite the lack of feeder bus service in the city.

South Western Railway (SWR) also operated more suburban trains in the city and between Bengaluru and Kolar, Tumakuru, Mandya and Gauribidanur to help passengers who travel daily to the city from these towns for work and business.

(With IANS inputs)