Shimla private bus operators to go on indefinite strike from today

Private bus operators in Shimla will go on an indefinite strike from Monday, which may cause massive inconvenience to residents. The bus operators have stated that bus services will not be provided within the town and all buses will be parked outside the RTO in Shimla.

During a recent meeting with officers of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) on October 12, it was unanimously decided that buses coming to Shimla from over 40 km distance will not be allowed to pass through the town, they claimed. The operators alleged that the despite the decision, no concrete action has been taken in this direction and the situation continues to remain the same.

Interestingly, the decision drew flak from the Himachal Transport Employees Union and other organisations, who have condemned the private bus operators’ move. Terming the strike as unjust and baseless, they have warned the HRTC officials against giving in to the pressure of the private bus operators. They also warned that they would not hesitate in going on a strike.

They stated that the demand to stop buses from entering the town is impractical and unreasonable. “Thousands of people, who live 40-45 km from Shimla, travel to the town on a daily basis. Therefore this demand not only does injustice to the poor people, but also gives a way for exploitation of people by the private bus operators,” said an office-bearer of the association.