Date:31/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/31/stories/2007103159550100.htm

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Trains, buses ‘puncture’ auto strike

Staff Reporter

20 additional MMTS services, 280 buses come in handy for commuters

HYDERABAD: Despite a majority of autorickshaws remaining off roads on Tuesday in support of a strike call given by their unions, it did not lead to any great inconvenience to commuters with special buses and local trains taking the additional load.

Except for school children and those residing in interior colonies who faced inconvenience in reaching schools and main roads, 1,326 seven-seater autos helped office-goers and other commuters reach their destinations.

“I was a bit worried as to how I would reach my home with all this luggage. But thankfully, the seven-seater auto came to my rescue,” said Veena Srivastava, a private employee, who arrived at Secunderabad railway station from Bangalore on Tuesday.

While the South Central Railway said about 14,000 commuters had travelled in the 20 additional MMTS services operated on Tuesday, the Hyderabad City Region of APSRTC claimed to have touched an occupancy ratio of 70 per cent in the 280-odd additional buses pressed into service.

Amidst such official claims, commuters towards Hitech City, Banjara Hills and nearby areas reached their destinations using shared cabs, including those on the regular IT companies’ run.

RTC authorities said an additional 70 buses would be operated on trunk routes and special information centres set up at Secunderabad and Kacheguda railway stations.

Conference

Meanwhile, the Anti-Auto Digital Meter Struggle Committee General Secretary B. Venkatesam said they would intensify the strike.

A round table conference with opposition parties is scheduled to be held at Sundaraiah Park on Wednesday.