Thousands of commuters across Haryana faced a harrowing time on Tuesday as the state roadways employees continued their strike for the second day to protest issuance of permits to private operators.
The state roadways services remained paralysed across Haryana and its capital—Chandigarh with the state transport employees remaining adamant on their demand of withdrawal of government’s decision to issue permits to private operators.
While the State Government held a series of meeting with the state roadways unions throughout the day on Tuesday, the meetings failed to yield any positive result.
The roadways employees under the banner of Haryana Roadways Employees Union (HRWU) and other roadways unions staged demonstrations at various depots in the state. The unions have also threatened to continue the strike for indefinite period in case the Haryana government failed to meet their demands.
About 3,500 buses, which include the luxury Volvo bus service, came to a halt at all bus stands in the state following a call of an indefinite strike given by roadways unions on Monday evening.
Haryana Roadways Workers Union (HRWU) President Sarbat Singh Punia said that the talks with the State Government has failed as the government’s stance on giving permits to private operators remained unchanged.
He alleged that last month, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar had assured us that the government would not give any permits to private operators. However, SS Dhillion, Additional Chief Secretary Transport had told us the government would give permits to 273 to private operators. Following this, the roadways unions were forced to give a call for an indefinite strike, he said.
The government should make its stance clear on the issue, he added.
Meanwhile, after government’s talks held with the state roadways union failed, Transport Minister, Krishan lal Panwar issued a series of directions to private transporters in a move to appease the state roadways unions.
Panwar directed that GPS systems should be installed immediately in all private buses. Once it is done if any permit holder changes his route, his security deposit of Rs 1 lakh would be forfeited.
The private permit holders would have to allow persons belonging to 39 categories who have been granted the facility of free or discounted travel in the state roadways buses. If any bus operator denies them travel in his bus, his permit would be cancelled, he said.
On the issue of permits being given to the private operators, the Minister while talking to the mediapersons said that the unions were objecting to the policy dated February 17, 2017. Presently, 853 private buses are being operated on 273 routes and all operators have got their permits made afresh. Priority was given to those who were already operating buses.
These included 80 per cent old permit holders and routes. Apart from this, 1,669 other applications were received. No new route has been assigned to anyone, he clarified.
The Minister also claimed, the employees' unions did not have any objection to the 853 permits which have already been issued.
Referring to the new Transport Policy, he said the matter was pending in the court and hearing would be held on April 20. The decision of the court would be followed in letter and spirit.
Asked about the timings of the buses on different routes, the Transport Minister said it would be decided jointly by the General Manager and Secretary, Regional Transport Authority concerned.
On continuation of strike by state roadways union, Panwar said that the interests of employees of the department and the people of the state are of paramount importance for the government which is always ready to hold talks with employees unions.
At present, there are about 4,200 buses in the fleet of the state transport. The government has also decided to include 1,000 buses in the fleet of state roadways this year.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas has issued directions to deputy commissioners to ensure that law and order situation is not disturbed in the state in view of ongoing strike of state roadways employees.