BANGALORE: The Railways and the State transport undertakings, including Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), will operate normal schedules on Thursday despite a call for nationwide strike by various trade unions and associations.

Authoricksaws will remain off the road as the two prominent autorickshaw drivers' association have decided to participate in the agitation.

According to a spokesperson of South-Western Railway, circulars have been issued to all the employees to attend duty without fail and not to take leave on Thursday. Any unauthorised absence will not be allowed, the spokesperson said.

The railways have set up a special cell at Bangalore City station to monitor the operations, he added.

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and its sister concerns will operate buses on regular basis.

BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathy told The Hindu that the corporation has not received any strike notice.

There was no question of the buses remaining in depots, as transport is essential service, he said. KSRTC General Manager Raj Kumar told The Hindu that the services will be normal.

No holiday for schools

No official holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the city in view of the all-India strike called by various trade unions and organisations on Thursday. Private institutions are likely to close down if there are any law and order disturbances.

When contacted, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education R. Ramalinga Reddy said the State Government has not declared holiday on Thursday.

Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor M.S. Thimmappa said the university will function as usual and there will be no rescheduling of classes. No examinations were scheduled for Thursday either.

Widespread support

There is widespread support to the call given by the Left parties and the Joint Committee of Trade Unions for the nationwide strike on Thursday opposing the increase in petrol and diesel prices and privatisation policies of the Union and State Governments.

The State Government employees are participating in the strike with one of the two central associations having served the strike notice on the Government.

The associations of the various Union Government offices in the city have decided to join the strike.

Employees unions of banks, insurance companies and the Postal Department have decided to participate in the strike.

The General Insurance Employees' Union has announced its support to the strike opposing the decision to allow an increase in foreign direct investment. Members of five major trade unions of officers and employees of banks will take part in the strike.

Employees of insurance companies and banks will assemble in front of the State Bank of Mysore on the Kempe Gowda Road here and take out a rally.

The All India Postal Employees Union Group C, the All India Postal Employees Union Postman Group D and the All India Gramin Dak Sevaks Union will take part in the strike.

The Adarsha Auto and Taxi Drivers Union and the Bangalore Auto Drivers Association have appealed to autorickshaw drivers to participate in the agitation.

BSNL counters

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) counters will not accept payment of telephone bills in cash at its counters in the city on Thursday in view of the nationwide strike.

Payments by cheques or demand draft will be accepted, says a press release from the Principal General Manager, BSNL, Bangalore Telecom District.

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