Bengaluru transport strike: Traffic police, airport issue advisories

Passengers travelling to and from Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport are likely to face inconvenience in booking cabs due to the Bengaluru bandh protest on September 11.

Traffic police in the city also issued an advisory suggesting people to avoid KG Road, Sheshadri Road, GT Road and Roads around Freedom Park and Majestic Bus stand.


“Due to the one-day protest called by private transport vehicle association on September 11, 2023, there might be disruption in the operation of taxis, maxi cabs, private buses & auto rickshaws,” said Bengaluru airport on Social media platform X.

It advised passengers to plan their travel to and from the airport accordingly.

The Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has called for a 'bandh' seeking a ban on bike taxis, and urging the government to extend the Shakti scheme -- that offers free bus rides to women on state-run transport buses -- to private buses as well, among other demands.

The private transporters have claimed that they have been negatively impacted by the Shakti scheme and that the state government has not fulfilled their demands despite repeated discussions.

About 7 to10 lakh vehicles including autos, taxis, airport taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles, school vehicles, also stage carriages, contract carriages and corporate buses, will go off the roads tomorrow, S Nataraj Sharma, president of the federation said.

Federation office bearers have said that they have organised a protest march from Sangolli Rayanna circle to Freedom Park in the city as part of the bandh.

The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will run more bus trips and services in the city and also to Kempegowda International Airport on Monday to mitigate the inconvenience caused to the public by the bandh.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy had recently said that the government was open to talks with the federation and is also making preparations to ensure that the inconvenience to the public is minimised.