Road Transport and Safety Bill: Staff calls for a nationwide strike

BENGALURU: Public transport services are likely to be hit in the city and across the state on April 30 due to the nationwide strike called by the employees of road transport undertakings. Both state-owned bus transport corporations BMTC and KSRTC will be off the road. Autorickshaw drivers have also extended support.

The strike is in opposition to the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014, which transport employees believe will curtail the powers of state-owned transport firms while giving an “unfair advantage“ to private bus operators. Auto drivers will not ply from 6 am to 6 pm to protest the stringent fines laid down in the new Bill, said Auto Rickshaw Drivers' Union general secretary Rudramurthy.

The strike call has already resulted in the postponement of the Common Entrance Test to May 12-13, and the diploma semester exam to May 10.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, through the Bill, has also proposed a points system for traffic violations. Penalty points accumulated by a driver would remain on record for three years, and accrual of 12 points would lead to the suspension of licence for one year.This is over and above the fines and jail terms proposed in the Bill.