Bus strike hits commuters

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 30

Bus services remained paralysed across the state today in view of a one-day nationwide bandh call given by the National Roadways Union against the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014.

The roadways employees under the banner of Uttaranchal Roadways Karamchari Union held demonstrations across the state at various bus depots, demanding withdrawal of the Bill. They shouted slogans against the Union government and strongly opposed the Bill.

Sunil Rathi, president, Uttaranchal Roadways Karamchari Union, addressing the agitators at IBST said the Union government had decided to give contract to private agencies to issue driving license to bus drivers which would be strongly opposed by the union.

He said the government should draft a concrete policy to tightened noose around private bus operators as fare charged by them were more than fare charged by government undertaking buses.

Rathi said the union members would hold a series of protests if the Union government didn’t accede to the union’s demand.

“We have decided to go on a one-day strike against the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2014,” said Ashok Kumar Chowdhury, general secretary of the union.

He said the Volvo and semi-deluxe bus service was off the road to register their protest against the government. Chowdhury said the Bill would curtail powers of the state undertaking bus operators while giving an unfair advantage to private bus operators.

DN Shukhla, HR Bahuguna, Sahdev Singh, Mohan Singh and others were present.

Taking advantage of the situation, private bus and taxi drivers fleeced the passengers. Under the umbrella of the Uttarakhand Roadways Employees Union, a protest was also staged against the Bill.