Bengaluru Bandh: Commuters Left In The Lurch As Strike Hits Tamil Nadu-Karnataka Bus Service

'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti', an umbrella outfit of farmers’ associations and other organisations, called for a bandh on Tuesday against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Majestic Bus Stand in Bengaluru wears a deserted look amid the imposition of Section 144 in the city.

Source : ANI

Normal life was partially affected in Bengaluru after a call for a complete shutdown on Tuesday by the 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti', an umbrella outfit of farmers’ associations and other organisations, against the release of Cauvery water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Despite Section 144 in place, farmer outfits took out bike rallies and held protests in parts of Bengaluru.

Office goers had a harrowing time at the IT hub as bus services were partially hit. However, all routes of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) remained functional.

Bus services from Tamil Nadu towards Karnataka were disrupted. Several buses from Tamil Nadu were stopped at Zuzuvadi in Krishnagiri district, ANI reported. KSRTC buses and autorickshaws remained off roads.

"People are struggling due to strike in Karnataka. Several IT industries are there, so all the people who are workers there are facing problems," a passenger, travelling from Hosur in Tamil Nadu to Bengaluru in Karnataka, said.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Less number of passengers seen at Majestic Bus Station, Bengaluru because of the Bandh called by various organizations regarding the Cauvery water issue. pic.twitter.com/2LsqxAAHO9

— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2023

As a precautionary measure, the Bengaluru Urban district administration has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges. Additionally, the Bengaluru City Police has imposed prohibitory orders in the city for 24 hours to maintain law and order. On Tuesday, Commissioner B Dayananda stated that security measures had been increased to prevent any untoward incidents in the city.

#WATCH | Karnataka: Security forces deployed in Bengaluru's Whitefield as a Bandh has been called by various organizations, in Bengaluru, regarding the Cauvery water issue pic.twitter.com/19mrBYboiW

— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2023

Airport taxi services may be affected, however, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has announced that Namma Metro services will continue to operate without interruption.

Tanveer Pasha, president of the Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association, acknowledged the company's involvement in the bandh in Bengaluru. The bandh is also expected to have an impact on airport taxis.
The hotel and restaurant groups expressed their support for the bandh and said that their establishments will remain closed.

Meanwhile, Akasa Air said, "there may be an impact on public transport facilities for travel to and from the airport". Vistara airlines advised travellers to plan their rides ahead of time in light of the bandh and to practise caution as private transport might be disrupted.

The Cauvery river water dispute between the two southern states has been going on for decades. The issue flared up recently after an order from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) asking Karnataka to release 5000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from September 13. This was not warmly received by the former, which has been maintaining for several days that there is no water to release amid a drought-like situation. The Supreme Court in an order on September 21 also refused to interfere with the directions of the CWMA after petitions were filed against the authority’s decision by the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu government.

While some farmers’ organisations have called for a ‘Bengaluru bandh’ today on the Cauvery issue, several Kannada organisations, under the banner ‘Kannada Okkuta’ led by Kannada activists Vatal Nagaraj have called for a state-wide bandh on September 29.