No respite for commuters on Day 2

Tribune News Service
Panchkula, October 17

Concerned over registration of cases against employees and notices served on union leaders, Haryana Roadways employees in an emergency meeting held at Kaithal in Haryana have decided to continue the strike for two more days.

Bus services from Chandigarh and Panchkula would be affected due to the strike. Commuters continued to face harassment on the second day today in view of the strike call given by the Haryana Roadways Workers Union in the state. The number of buses plying from the tricity has reduced to nearly 20 per cent.

However, keeping in view the resentment among the employees, the Haryana Roadways authorities kept tracking long-route buses. About 10 union leaders had been served suspension notices by the General Manager of the Haryana Roadways, Chandigarh depot.

Haryana Roadways Coordination Committee member Balwan Singh Dadewa said only 20 per cent long-route buses plied from Panchkula and Chandigarh.

General Manager of the Panchkula depot Dr Bhanwarjit Singh said notices had been served on 53 employees, including 24 probationers, for taking part in the strike. He said these employees had been directed to return to duty immediately so that people do not face any problem. He said the Haryana Roadways was suffering a loss of Rs 10 lakh daily due to the strike.

There was a security blanket at the bus terminals in Chandigarh and Panchkula. A large number of police personnel and sleuths of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed to thwart any untoward incident.

Security blanket

There was a security blanket at the bus terminals in Chandigarh and Panchkula. A large number of police personnel and sleuths of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed to thwart any untoward incident.