Chennai, March 28 (BPNS)

Heavy rush is witnessed in metro railway stations in Chennai as the state-run Metropolitan Transport Corporation( MTC) bus services are off roads due to the All India strike called by joint trade unions.

Koymabedu station was particularly packed with long queues found in the station to take tickets.

When contacted, Southern Railway officials said that there is an unprecedented increase in the passenger flow in all the metro stations in Chennai. Koyambedu, Triplicane, Nungambakkam, and all major stations are full with passengers as buses are not plying. All these areas have heavy traffic rush.

According to an official, Nungambakkam station had more than 55000 passengers from 5 AM on Monday till 12 PM. He said that by evening the exact number of passengers who have used train services from the station will be known.

It is to be noted that around 1000 MTC buses are off the road in Chennai corporation alone due to the all-India strike called by the Joint trade unions against the privatization policies of the Union government.

Office going people, students, and daily wage earners were stranded on the road and buses are not available at all the important points in the city.

Selvaraj, R, a leader of the CPI affiliated AITUC at Koyambedu, Chennai while speaking to BPNS said, “ The people of the city are responding positively to the strike called by joint trade unions against the policies of the central government and its privatization drive. We have no other option other than to raise our voice against these anti-people policies of the Government of India. “