Haryana roadways unions on Thursday announced to withdraw their strike as the State Government accepted their demands after four days.
After hectic parleys with the roadways unions, Haryana Transport Minister Krishan lal Panwar announced to frame a new transport policy and withdraw the suspension orders of roadways employees.
The roadways employees had been protesting since Monday evening over issuance of permits to private operators in the state. The State Government had ordered suspension of more than 120 employees including union leaders for going on flash strike without prior notice to the Government.
Following the meeting, Sarbat Singh Punia, general secretary of Haryana Roadways Workers Union on Thursday evening, announced to withdraw the strike and said that the government has accepted our demands.
No new permits would be given to private operators and the government would frame a new transport policy. Besides, the suspension orders of more than 120 employees have also been cancelled, he said.
In the past two days, several rounds of meetings between the Government and roadways unions had failed to end the deadlock over the issue of private permits.
The Government has suffered a loss of Rs 4 crore per day due to the strike in the state. More than 3500 buses, which include the luxury Volvo bus service, had come to a halt at all bus stands in the state since Monday evening. As more than 13 lakh passengers travel in the state roadways buses daily, commuters had faced a tough time after the public transport did not ply on their regular routes for almost four days.
While talking to the mediapersons, Transport Minister, Krishan lal Panwar, said that the government would frame a new transport policy in which suggestions from the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and office-bearers of state roadways employees unions would be incorporated after discussions.
Panwar after meeting office-bearers of the roadways employees said that the State Government would file an affidavit in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to withdraw the case related to the 2016-17 scheme which is pending in the court.
As many as 853 private buses are operating on 273 routes in the state and they would continue to ply. The permit holders would have to allow persons of 39 categories such as freedom fighters and students, who have been granted the facility of free or discounted travel in state roadways buses. If any operator denies them travel in his bus, strict action would be initiated against him, Panwar said.
The State Government has revoked the suspension of 120 employees who were suspended during the strike by state roadways employees and they would continue to serve, he added.
Earlier, the State Government had issued orders to all private operators to install GPS systems in 853 private buses within 48 hours. After installation of the GPS systems, if any permit holder changes his route, his security deposit of Rs 1 lakh would be forfeited.