KOCHI: The 12-hour strike called by the Left-supported motor vehicle workers’ unions in protest against the petrol price hike evoked partial response in Kochi. Various political parties took out protest marches and held meetings to express their distress over the price hike. BJP activists held protest marches and formed a human chain in front of a petrol pump.Although private buses, autorickshaws and taxis kept off the roads, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) conducted services to various destinations.The KSRTC’s regular services plied without trouble in the morning. However, the services were disrupted after the police insisted that the buses travel only in convoys and with police escort. This caused a heavy traffic congestion near the KSRTC bus stand till noon. “Since there were not enough police escorts, there was a lot of delay in operating the services in the morning. The issue was solved by afternoon and the buses resumed services,” said Antony P X, Controlling Officer, KSRTC.The KSRTC’s A/C Volvo buses did not operate owing to the strike. “The collection was very low as there were a very few passengers. So, we did not want to risk the Volvo buses getting damaged. We actually ran on a loss on Saturday,” he added. Several tourists were left stranded in the city as they were unaware of the strike. “We did not know that there was such an issue going on here. We had plans to go to Fort Kochi. But there seems to be no taxi services or buses going there,” said Lisa James, an American tourist. The police said the strike was peaceful and no untoward incidents were reported from any places.
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