The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Strike throws life out of gear

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 12, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Strike throws life out of gear

Staff Reporter

NO OTHER GO: As the private bus strike entered the second day on Thursday, the woes of passengers multiplied, with many of them even risking their lives to get a toehold on any moving vehicle. A scene from the Ernakulam-Muvattupuzha Road in the city. — Photo: Vipinchandran

KOCHI: The State-wide private bus strike paralysed Kochi for the second day on Thursday, with overcrowded KSRTC buses and vehicles which ran parallel service caught in huge traffic snarls. A heavy spell of rain in the morning peak hours added to the woes of the commuters.

The snarls happened because people poured into the congested roads in private vehicles, mainly cars and two-wheelers. Even side lanes in the city were filled with vehicles ferrying people to different places. The inordinate wait to cross busy stretches resulted in road rage, with drivers ending up in quarrels with co-drivers.

The KSRTC ran extra services to different places in the district. People had a harrowing time getting in and out of the buses as they have only one door, unlike private buses, which have two doors. As on Wednesday, some passengers managed to gain access to the buses through the windows. Some found refuge on the ladder and footboard.

Many commuters complained that the services run by the KSRTC were planned unscientifically since often, buses plied as convoys. This resulted in people having to wait for long time to get the next bus. It is learnt that the Government has decided to send 25 KSRTC buses to Ernakulam, to ply extra service.

Most trains to Kochi and those which pass through the two railway stations here, too were crowded. Vehicles which ran parallel service charged much above the normal bus fares. A few incidents of pick-pocketing were reported in buses and other vehicles which ran parallel service. Autos too were much in demand. Passenger ferries from the islands too were crowded.

Attendance in schools which do not have school buses was low. Students too had to rely on vehicles which ran parallel service. Some offices sent their vehicles to pick up staff from different places in the city.

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