Woman Stages Sit-In Protest After TNSTC Bus Driver Ignores Her Stop Signal
A woman took matters into her own hands on Saturday in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. She blocked a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus and held a sit-in protest right in front of it. This dramatic action happened near Otta Methai.
Why Did She Protest?
The woman, identified as K Saritha, is a temporary worker with the Pallipalayam municipality. She lives in Phatharai village near Veppadai. On Saturday morning, she was heading to work as usual. Saritha waited at the Phatharai bus stop. She saw a TNSTC bus approaching and signalled for it to stop.
The bus, attached to the Salem division and bearing the number E-5, did not stop. It simply drove past her. This left Saritha stranded and angry. She could not reach her workplace on time because of this incident.
The Return of the Bus and the Escalation
Later that day, the same bus returned on its route. Saritha saw her chance. She stepped onto the road and physically blocked the bus. Then she sat down in front of the vehicle, staging a determined sit-in protest.
A heated argument erupted between Saritha and the bus driver, Venkatesh. She confronted him directly. "You did not stop the bus this morning," she said. "Because of you, I could not appear for work on time."
Saritha made a serious allegation against the driver. She claimed that drivers often ignore passengers if only one person is waiting at a stop. "The driver would not stop the bus if only one person is waiting at the stop," she stated firmly.
Traffic Disruption and Police Intervention
Her protest had an immediate impact. Traffic on the busy Pallipalayam-Phatharai Road came to a standstill. Vehicles lined up as the bus blocked the way.
Officers from the Pallipalayam police station rushed to the scene. They spoke with Saritha, trying to calm her down and resolve the situation. After some discussion, they managed to pacify her and clear the road.
Official Response from TNSTC
A TNSTC official addressed the incident after being contacted. The official clarified the corporation's policy. "Drivers are instructed to stop the bus even when a single passenger signals to stop it," the official said. The rules are clear on this matter.
In response to this specific event, the corporation has taken action. "We have initiated a departmental inquiry into the incident," the official confirmed. This inquiry will examine the driver's actions and determine if proper procedures were followed.
The protest highlights a common grievance among bus passengers in rural and semi-urban areas. Many people rely on state transport for their daily commute. When buses fail to stop, it disrupts their entire day, affecting work, appointments, and personal schedules.
Local residents often express frustration over such incidents. They say some drivers skip stops to save time or because they assume few passengers will board. This leaves commuters, especially women and elderly people, stranded and helpless.
The TNSTC official reiterated the importance of following protocols. "Our drivers must adhere to the rules without exception," the official stressed. The corporation aims to provide reliable and accessible public transport for all citizens.
