HYDERABAD: Intercity bus service was crippled on Monday by a strike observed by transporters in protest against dismantling of their offices on late Saturday night to force them to move their businesses from the Baldia bus terminal to a new site along the Hatri bypass.

About 2,500 buses, coaches and vans were taken off the road early in the morning causing great hardship to hundreds of intending travellers but the strike was ended at 5pm.

The protesting transporters said they would announce another protest plan on Tuesday.A major operation involving the Hyderabad police, Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and jail police was launched on Saturday night to evict transporters, traders and vendors from the bus terminal after they ignored repeated notices to vacate the 10-acre land adjacent to the Hyderabad Central Prison. The provincial government and the district administration had earlier decided to shift the bus terminal to the identified site as part of a comprehensive plan for the security of the jail.

A heavy rush of passengers was witnessed at the Badin and Qasim Chowk terminals from where intercity buses, coaches and vans were operated without any disruption. The transporters having their offices and operation centre at these two terminals did not support the protesting transporters.