Karnataka Bandh today over Cauvery River water sharing row: Here’s what to expect
While several pro-Kannada outfits have announced to hold rallies, the Bengaluru police have clamped a Section 144 CrPC in the city.
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This bandh comes barely a few days after the Bengaluru bandh held on Tuesday, which received mixed response from the people. (Express photo by Jithendra M)
‘Kannada Okkuta’ — an umbrella organisation of pro-Kannada outfits, which is protesting the Karnataka government’s decision to release water from the Cauvery River to Tamil Nadu, has called for a statewide bandh Friday.
This bandh comes barely a few days after the Bengaluru bandh held on Tuesday, which received mixed response from the people.
Although several pro-Kannada outfits have announced to hold rallies amid a Section 144 CrPC by the Bengaluru police, here’s what the common man can expect on Friday.
Grocery shops and emergency services
With more than 1,900 associations supporting the bandh, grocery and other non-essential shops in the state, especially in the southern parts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, are expected to remain shut. Essential services like hospitals, ambulances and chemist shops will remain operational.
KSRTC and BMTC buses
The KSRTC and the BMTC buses will be operational based on the situation across the state. An official in the KSRTC said a decision will be taken after reviewing the ground situation. However, the official added that the number of buses that will remain operational Friday will be downsized.
Speaking about inter-state operations, the official said buses to Tamil Nadu may not be operational Friday but they will be subject to change based on the situation.
Roads and Highways
The associations have planned to hit roads and hold protests in front of National Highway entrances, demanding the central government to intervene in the matter. The traffic on major roads of Bengaluru, especially in the central business district and in the entry and exit points, is likely to take a hit.
Flights
While flight operations will remain as usual, Kempegowda International Airport authorities have issued an advisory which states, “Due to one day Karnataka bandh called by various unions and organisations on September 29, 2023, we anticipate disruption in transport services. Passengers are advised to plan their travel to and from the airport accordingly. Passengers are requested to follow alerts from respective airlines, law enforcement agencies and media releases for further updates.”
App cabs and auto-rickshaw services
Cab aggregators, including Ola and Uber, have extended their support to the bandh and several drivers are expected to participate in the rallies. Tanveen Pasha, member of the Ola Uber Driver’s and Owner’s Association, said the vehicle owners and drivers have been informed to remain off the road. The rally will reach the town hall from Nayandahalli.
General secretary of the Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU) in Bengaluru, Rudramurthy said that auto-rickshaws will be off the roads and the association will hold a rally. However, the various factions of the auto-rickshaw union are yet to take a call.
Private buses
Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association representing 32 private transport unions met on Thursday and decided to provide moral support to the Karnataka bandh. The association has directed the transport operators and owners to operate their vehicles at their own discretion.
Government and private schools
Bengaluru deputy commissioner Dayananda K A has announced a holiday for all schools and colleges in the city.
In a statement, the Associated Managements of Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) said, “We extend moral support to Karnataka bandh. However, we request the deputy commissioners of respective districts to evaluate the situation in the district based on which they decide on the holiday for schools in view of the Karnataka bandh on Friday. We will also leave it to the discretion of the school management to declare a holiday to schools based on the circumstances of their locality to ensure the safety of the students.”
The Deputy Commissioners have been empowered to take a call on announcing holidays by directing to the local education department based on the situation.
Several CBSE and ICSE schools, which had scheduled mid-term examinations on Friday, rescheduled the tests to Saturday.
At Bengaluru City University, the second and the fourth Semester Degree Examinations, scheduled to be held on Friday, have been postponed on account of the Karnataka Bandh and rescheduled on October 4.
At Bangalore University, the second and fourth semester Degree Examinations, scheduled to be held on Friday, have been rescheduled on Saturday.
At the Visvesvaraya Technological University, all semester-end examinations and special examinations scheduled on Friday, have been rescheduled as below:
1. All UG Courses examination – Saturday, 30/09/2023.
2. All PG Courses examination Tuesday, 10/10/2023.
The university informed that there has been no changes in the timings.
“The principals of all the affiliated engineering colleges and constituent engineering colleges are requested to go through the time table and bring the contents of the same to the notice of all the concerned,” the university said in a statement.
Hotels and Restaurants
After holding a Zoom meeting, Karnataka hotel owners association on Thursday decided to shut its operations across the state. Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association president PC Rao says that the hotels will extend support to Karnataka bandh and the hotels in Bengaluru will remain closed. He also said that the state hotel owners also were of the same opinion to close operations.
Film theatres and Kannada
Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association on Thursday in a statement said that it will not screen any movies on Friday till 6pm across the state. In a statement KV Chandrashekara, president of the association said that they will extend support to the bandh and the evening (6-7pm) show will be screened.
Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce has called for a gathering near their office in Gandhinagar at 10 am to stand in solidarity with Karnataka’s farmers. Film actors including Shivarajkumar, Prajwal Devaraj, Ajay Rao, Dhruva Sarja, Vinod Raj, among others are expected to join the protest. NM Suresh, president of the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce said, “Our protest is not against the state government. The entire film fraternity stands in solidarity with our farmers and the Kannadigas at this time of distress. We are not holding any protest march or rally because of section 144. However, all the actors will gather at Gandhinagar to show their support for the farmers.”
Namma Metro
Namma Metro in Bengaluru will operate as usual and the authorities have beefed up security at the entrances. As Statutory Safety Inspection is being conducted, the Metro services between KR Puram and Garudacharpalya will be suspended for a full day. Metro operations between Baiyappanahalli to Indiranagar will be suspended between 1.30pm and 4.30pm. The train services between Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Garudacharpalya will be operational full day and between Indiranagar and Kengeri from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. There will be no changes in train services on the green line.
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