Roadways on strike, govt ropes in pvt school buses

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 18

Even as Haryana Roadways unions extended their strike till Friday, the state government on Thursday decided to rope in private school buses for the convenience of commuters.

Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said school bus operators who wanted to run buses on specified routes could get in touch with the Regional Transport Authorities, which were working on modalities of running of private buses.

He pointed out that school bus operators would have to provide drivers and conductors. He said the state government was ready for talks with striking employees on any issue except for introducing 720 private buses.

Panwar said striking employees would be booked under the ESMA. He added the advertisement to appoint 930 conductors and 500 drivers under the outsourcing policy had been issued.

Karnal: Commuters had to face a tough time on Thursday, particularly on rural routes. They had to wait for hours for buses, though private buses and school buses provided some relief.

“I have been waiting for a bus for more than an hour. The government should take action against the employees causing problems to the common man,” said Ramesh Kumar of Garhibirbal.

The district administration took the help of 20 drivers with the Haryana Police and pressed 65 school buses into service. Another 72 private buses plied on various routes.

“We have urged school managements to support the administration,” said Nishant Kumar Yadav, Additional Deputy Commissioner. He said private schools would be given Rs30 per km for their support.

Yamunanagar: The police on Thursday registered a case against Hari Narain Sharma, state president of the All-Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union, for participating in the strike.

On the complaint of Ravinder Prakash Pathak, General Manager of the Yamunanagar depot, a case was registered against Sharma under the ESMA. Sharma could not be contacted for comment.

The strike remained peaceful in the district. The roadways authorities plied about 25 buses, both roadways and private, in the afternoon.

Panipat: The General Manager of Panipat depot, SP Parmar, on Thursday suspended 18 employees and served show-cause notice on 192 employees for violating the ban order under the ESMA.

Around 215 employees were on strike on Thursday. The administration arranged 30 private buses, which would be run on local routes.

The district administration provided 53 special police officers to Haryana Roadways.