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In Chennai, half of the MTC buses would not operate today
Posted on: 26/Feb/2021 9:21:26 AM
The TN Transport employees strike is likely to continue today also as the talks over the wage agreement has not been resolved. As a result, just like yesterday, half the MTC or Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses could stay off the roads today. It is learnt that yesterday more than half the 3300 MTC buses remained idle at the bus depots in the Chennai city.
The bus strike had brought huge happiness for the auto drivers and share auto drivers as they over charged the commuters. Double or triple the rate was charged by these drivers even for a short distance.
The commuters did not have any other option and they were forced to give high rates to the auto and share auto drivers. Point is that Thursday was a Muhurtham day for the marriages and due to this demand for public transport was higher than usual. In Chennai and its suburbs, the waiting time for cabs increased from 7- 10 minutes to atleast 20 minutes.
The railway stations witnessed more people as the buses that ply along the GST Road were jam packed. The office goers and other commuters who depended on MTC buses faced issues.
It was later pointed out by resident Kovilambakkam that at the morning peak hours hardly any train was operated at Pallavaram station. The truth is that there was a technical snag in the overhead power cables from 5:30 am to 7:3 am and this led to train delay. By evening, the situation became better and this was as per the railway authorities. Throughout the day, the services of MTC buses were affected due to the strike by the workers unions.
According to a senior officer belonging to MTC, if there was a staff shortage on Friday then it would be overcome by employing trained drivers.
