Commuters suffer as roadways staff go on strike

Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh, March 17

Bus services remained paralysed across the state today after the Haryana Roadways staff went on a strike protesting the government’s move of issuing a timetable for long-route private buses and granting permits to private transporters.

The strike was called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Haryana Roadways Workers’ Unions affiliated to the Sarv Karamchari Sangh Haryana and the Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh late last night.

A spokesman for the government said the government had invited unions to discuss their demands. Principal Secretary (Transport) Avtar Singh, Transport Commissioner Ashok Khemka and Director General Transport will hold discussions.

He said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the state government, “to issue timetable strictly in accordance with the Stage Carriage Permit of each petitioner under the 2013 scheme.”

He said the timetable for additional districts would be withheld till discussions. He appealed to the workers to return to work to ensure that no discomfort is caused to public.

Sirsa/Fatehabad: Buses today remained off the road in Sirsa and Fatehabad, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Sarbat Singh Punia, president of the Sarva Karamchari Sangh affiliated Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union, said the government had unilaterally announced timetable for private buses as per the policy framed in 2003.

“Through our three-day strike, we had stopped the previous Congress government from implementing the policy that entailed plying private buses on long routes. But this government yesterday released the timetable for private players without any notice,” he said.

Kurukshetra: The strike by roadways staff turned out to be a struggle for commuters as they left stranded for hours.

Randhir Singh, who reached the bus stand with his family, said “I need to reach Panipat and we have been told that no roadways bus will ply today. Now, I have to go to Pipli to board a bus.”

While commuters were in a hurry to board private buses or cabs to reach their destinations, the vendors dependent on daily wages looked dejected and helpless. Sonu, who was selling coconut outside the Pipli bus stand, said “Usually, I earn around Rs 350 a day but today, it seems that I will not earn even Rs 200. Its 2 pm and I have earned only Rs 80 so far as there are lesser passengers. Almost all daily vendors are facing the same situation here.”

Roadways employees held a demonstrated on the premises of bus stands and raised slogans against the government demanding withdrawal of the new timetable and granting of long-route permits.

Faridabad: Only 10 buses could depart from the Faridabad bus depot as protesting employees of the roadways locked gates of the depot in the morning. They threaten to continue the strike if their demands are not met. “The strike will continue indefinitely if the government fails to resolve the matter and withdraw permits issued to private transporters,” said Ram Ashray, a member of the JAC. The strike caused inconvenience to commuters who were seen looking for other means of transportation in the city.

Sonepat: The Sonepat depot and the Gohana sub-depot today wore a deserted look as roadways buses remained stationed due to the strike. Activists of the Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union locked the entry and exit points of the depots and sat on a dharna protesting the government’s move of privatising state utilities. Jaipal Rana, depot general manager, said of 236 buses, 45 buses from Sonepat and Gohana left the depots before the dharna began and 35 buses departed in the night.

Kaithal: The strike cost the Kaithal bus depot a loss of Rs 12 lakh today. Buses remained parked at the bus depot and passengers were left stranded. Striking employees termed the government’s decision of issuing new timetable for private bus operators as “anti-employee”. They alleged that the government was going for privatisation of the Haryana Roadways, which is not in the interests of people and employees.

Karnal: The strike hit transport services and left commuters in the lurch. All local employee unions extended their support to the strike call. “The government has betrayed roadways employees by issuing permits to private players, which would not be tolerated,” said Ram Niwas Sharma, president, Haryana Sanyukt Karamchari Sangh.

Rohtak: While commuters faced inconvenience due to the strike, private bus and cab operators had a field day today. The striking employees held a demonstration on the local bus stand premises and raised slogans against the state government. Some representatives of the roadways have been called for talks with the state authorities.

Yamunanagar: Of the total 163 buses, only 25 departed from the Yamunanagar depot today. Ashwani Kumar, general manager, Yamunanagar depot, said the depot today incurred a loss of Rs 12-13 lakh due to the strike.