Bandh in city remains partial
Shops remained open; private vehicles were on roads from noon
The city mostly remained its bustling self during the bandh called by the TSRTC joint action committee (JAC) on Saturday. For most part, commercial establishments stayed open throughout the day.
Opposition activists held up traffic at various places for about an hour but it was business as usual later on. Many people, however, put off non-essential trips.
The RTC could run about 15 per cent of the fleet. At Falaknuma, only 11 out of 104 were operated in the morning. The bus termini including the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station at Imlibun were deserted. Taxi unions had joined the strikes but a few vehicles were seen plying on the roads.
The police had a busy day, making a total of 3,294 preventive arrests in the city, 786 in the city, 1,206 at Rachakonda and 1,302 at Cyberabad.
Among those inconvenienced by the transport strike were those who had come to write exams, including the preliminary test for IBPS Probationary Officer. Twitter user Narsi Reddy, a resident of Khammam, said he did not know how to reach Hyderabad for the test in view of the transport strike.
Private vehicles were on the roads as usual. Autorickshaw drivers had a field day, cashing in on the shortage of vehicles.
Ms Sridevi from Neredmet paid `150 for a trip from Neredmet to ECIL crossroads, which otherwise costs half that amount. Mr Phaneendra at KBHB Colony paid `200 for a trip to SR Nagar.
Many residents postponed their Diwali shopping. Ms Kavita Reddy, a resident in Malkajgiri, said, “I was to go to General Bazaar at Ranigunj to shop for the festival but I am not able to move out.” She has put off shopping for Monday.
Political activists held protests were held across the city and were briefly detained. In the most notable incident, CPI (ML) leader Potu Rangarao lost his thumb during a protest at RTC crossroads. He claimed a policeman had shut the vehicle door on his thumb, severing it cleanly in the middle.
Workers of the CPI, BJP and the Congress were seen on the roads expressing solidarity with the RTC workers and blocked vehicles in some places. In one instance at Gandhinagar, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists forced a supermarket, restaurants and other shops to close down. They opened a couple of hours later.
TS Telugu Desam president L. Ramana and senior leader Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy and Telangana Jana Samiti convener Prof. M. Kodandaram were arrested at Jubilee bus station, TS BJP chief Dr K. Laxman at Abids. They were released later. Activists were arrested at many places, CPI leaders at Kukatpally, BJP activists at Rajendranagar and Jeedimetla. In Balajinagar, BJP corporator P. Kavya Reddy was placed under house arrest.
Police beefed up security at the homes of senior Congress leaders such as V. Hanumantha Rao, former minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Marri Shashidhar Reddy.
The United Students’ Federation of India expressed support to the TSRTC employees and its leaders criticised the state government for using the police to control agitation. Also supporting the strike were medical and health department employees. Gazetted and non-gazetted employees held a protest in support of the RTC staff.