Controversy erupted ahead of the inevitable change in the city bus service that is likely to come into effect from April 1 as workers employed under the previous system of management have suspended operation of buses until their demand is met. The services however in the absence of any concrete assurances from Urban Development Minister, CP Singh are unlikely to resume before April 1.
A delegation of workers on Monday approached the Minister to seek a guarantee to their bread and butter under new operator—M/s Kishore Mantri Travels—and protested against changing the operator for the only State owned transport system for the Capital. The Minister made no commitments. “I cannot give them false assurances. I told them that I will talk to Secretary. But I have advised them to approach RMC administration. Since they are working from a long time hence they are justified too in their demands. But we have to continue buses under new system from April 1,” said Singh.
With no concrete assurances the workers have decided to put breaks on buses. Salary, perks and benefits that are the sole prerogative of the new operator of city buses has kicked-in storm leading to suspension of operation for indefinite period. The bus service was earlier managed by Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation . The delegation of workers also questioned the tender process carried out by RMC.
“Earlier we used to get benefits of PF, ESI which we fear that we may not get under the new system. We have worked for about four and half hours and now our future is at stake. We want regularisation of our services under new owner else either the RMC control everything or continue city buses under the existing system,” said supervisor of city buses, Sanjeev Kumar Singh.
Nonetheless, for the new operator the controversy is all a storm in a teacup and the fear of retrenchment is overblown without looking into the roadmap for managing the most important passenger service for Ranchi. The new operator confided that contrary to fear of cutting staffs human resource will be needed but retention and recruitment will be subject to conditions decided by the company.