Bengaluru,1.23 lakh workers of four public transport utilities sector launching an indefinite strike from Sunday midnight for a wage hike.

Transport services were partially curtailed in several parts of the city on Sunday itself, indicating the strike by BMTC, KSRTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC is likely to be total.

Around 23,000 KSRTC, BMTC and regional RTC buses will be off the roads. A holiday for schools and colleges across the state on Monday and Tuesday has been announced by the Chief Minister.

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi administration has decided not to impose holidays for schools and colleges in their districts since 90% of the commuters depend on private buses.

Minister Ramalinga Reddy said they have roped in 30,000 private buses and 80,000 maxi-cabs for commuting in the city.

"We have the provision of imposing Esma (Essential Services Maintenance Act), but refrained because we want to settle the issue amicably," Ramalinga Reddy added.

BMRC's chief public relations officer UA Vasanth Rao said the Metro will run every five minutes from the current six during peak hours, if there is a huge rush.

Transport commissioner Rame Gowda said, "We've asked Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and other states to deploy as many buses as possible."