Key Takeaways
- The Bengaluru Bandh was withdrawn after the government met most of the private operators’ demands.
- The Shakti Scheme offers free bus travel for women, causing profit concerns for private transport firms.
- Ramalinga Reddy negotiated the settlement at Freedom Park, agreeing to 27 of 30 demands.
On Monday, September 11, the Karnataka State Private Vehicles Owner Association withdrew its Bengaluru transport strike, known as the Bengaluru Bandh, opposing the Shakti Scheme introduced by the Siddaramaiah‑led Congress state government.
The Shakti Scheme is one of the pre‑election ‘guarantees’ promised by the Congress, providing free travel to women on government buses.
Stating that the ‘Shakti Scheme’ ‘eats into their profits’, the private transport operators called for a bandh seeking a ban on bike-taxis, and urged the state government to extend the Shakti Scheme to private buses as well. The association claimed that their demands have not been fulfilled by the government despite repeated discussions, and that it has been adversely impacted by the Shakti Scheme.
In order to pacify the Private Vehicles Owner Association and their protest, which was going on at Freedom Park, State Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, met the union leaders, and 27 out of 30 demands of the association were agreed to by Reddy.
