Karnataka Bandh Today: Bengaluru Schools Shut, Airport Issues Advisory | What's Open, What's Not

Days after the “Bengaluru Bandh”, pro-Kannada and farmers’ organisations have called for the ‘Karnataka Bandh’ on September 29 to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The bandh is likely to impact normal life in the state, especially in the southern part.

‘Kannada Okkuta’, an umbrella organisation for Kannada outfits including factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers’ bodies have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown.

Cauvery Dispute: Protests Intensify in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, All About Water Sharing & Legal Battles

Organisers have planned a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom Park in the city. They have said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut highways, toll gates, rail services, and airports.

The two southern states are once again at loggerheads over the Cauvery water-sharing issue following the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s directives to release water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu at a time when several taluks in the state have been declared drought-hit.

What’s Open, What’s Closed in Karnataka on Sept 29

Hotels, auto-rickshaws and hail riders associations have supported the bandh in Karnataka.

Section 144 in Bengaluru

Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which prohibits assembly of four or more people in a specific area, will remain in place in Bengaluru from Thursday midnight to Friday midnight, Deccan Herald reported.

App-based Cabs and Auto-rickshaw Services

Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union and Ola Uber Drivers and Owners’ Association (OUDOA) are supporting the bandh. OUDOA president Tanveer Pasha said they will take out a rally from Nayandahalli to the Freedom Park on September 30.

Schools, Colleges

Bengaluru’s Deputy Commissioner, Dayananda K A, has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the city.

An office bearer of the Karnataka State Private Schools’ Association told PTI that they were extending ‘moral support’ to the bandh. “We have told our association members to use their discretion regarding the bandh. We have communicated to our students that there are chances of schools remaining shut,” the office-bearer said.

The Deputy Commissioners have been granted the authority to make decisions regarding the declaration of holidays by communicating with the local education department, depending on the prevailing situation.

Several CBSE and ICSE schools, which had originally scheduled mid-term examinations for Friday, have opted to reschedule these tests to Saturday.

Exams at Bengaluru City University and Visvesvaraya Technological University have also been rescheduled.

Hotels

The Bruhath Bangaluru Hotel Association has extended its ‘moral support’ to the strike. However, they were holding a meeting to take a final decision on whether to keep the restaurants and eateries shut for the whole day on Friday.

KSRTC, BMTC & Private Buses

Meanwhile, the State Transport Department has issued directions to the state transport corporations to continue their services as usual.

The operation of KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) and BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses will depend on the prevailing situation in the respective area.

An official from KSRTC said that a decision regarding bus services will be made after assessing the on-ground condition. However, the official also noted that the number of buses in operation on Friday will be reduced, Indian Express reported.

Regarding inter-state bus operations, the official stated that buses travelling to Tamil Nadu may not be in operation on Friday. However, this status could change depending on the evolving situation and circumstances.

The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association, representing 32 private transport unions, announced to offer moral support to the Karnataka bandh. The association has directed transport operators and owners to make individual decisions regarding the operation during the bandh.

Flights

Flight operations at Kempegowda International Airport are expected to continue as usual. However, the airport authorities have issued an advisory in anticipation of potential disruptions in transport services due to a one-day Karnataka bandh.

Passengers are advised to plan their travel to and from the airport accordingly. Additionally, passengers are encouraged to stay informed by following alerts from their respective airlines, law enforcement agencies, and media releases for any further updates.

BJP, JD(S) Extends Support to Bandh

The opposition BJP and Janata Dal (S) have extended their support to the bandh.

A few activists on Thursday staged protests in the Cauvery heartland of Mandya against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. They have been staging agitation for the past 15 days.

They alleged that the state government had been lenient towards Tamil Nadu and had not been pursuing the matter properly.

(With PTI inputs)