The association of city buses of Dehradun has taken back its ongoing strike after a meeting with the transport department officials on Sunday. This decision would give much needed relief to the city commuters harassed by the strike of city buses.
The city buses of the provisional state capital were off the roads from July 18 in protest against the illegal operation of Vikrams in the city. On Sunday a delegation of city bus operators was invited for talks by the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) of Dehradun, Sudhanshu Garg. In the meeting the RTO assured the association that action against illegal operation of Vikrams would be taken.
In the understanding reached between the two sides, the RTO said that he would request the department to constitute two enforcement teams in the city. The association of city buses was demanding that two enforcement officers should be deployed for action on illegal operation of Vikrams. The department also assured that penalties under section 86 would be slapped if the contract carriage vehicles like Vikrams are found carrying retail costumers on the city routes. Similar action would be initiated on overloading. While disposing of the penalties under section 86 the department would also ask the contract carriage permit holder to submit an affidavit that the department would be free to suspend/ terminate the permit if the vehicle is again found carrying retail customers or charged with overloading. During the period of suspension of permit the contract carriage vehicle would be parked at the compound of Asha Rodi check post.
The association of city bus operators is demanding that the contract carriage vehicles like Vikrams should be stopped from carrying retail customers on city routes like stage carriage vehicles (city buses).
The association wanted that administration and transport department should respect the order of Uttarakhand High Court (HC) dated May 27, 2014 and stop illegal movement of Vikrams.
They alleged that the financial condition of the bus operators has taken a plunge and many of them are not in a position to repay loans and meet the requirement of their family.
The President of the city buses association Vijay Vardhan Dandariyal said that the association is satisfied by the agreement reached. He said that strike call is being withdrawn in view of the inconvenience faced by the general public.
Interestingly the tough stand taken by the transport department in which it had threatened to cancel the permits of agitated city bus operators cornered the recalcitrant association and it took back the strike. The Sunday’s meeting with the RTO proved a face saver for the association and paved way for the taking back the strike.
Immediately after the agreement was reached the city bus operators resumed their stalled services. More than 400 city buses had halted their wheels due to which the daily commuters faced hardships.