Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli buses on strike, commuters stranded

As many as 120 government buses and 56 mofussil buses here were not operated after some bus drivers decided to go on strike following reported failure of talks with the state government over their demands,department officials said. 

The striking workers are demanding among other things, settlement of retirement benefits and payment of operational deficit to the transport corporations. Ten major unions, including the Labour Progressive Federation (affiliated to DMK) and CITU which had called for the agitation, took part in the strike. 

Several rounds of talks have been held between representatives of the worker unions and Transport Minister M R Vijayabhaskar in Chennai over the past few days. 

Meanwhile, officials assured that government buses would run as per schedule across the state tomorrow.