Free travel for women in DTC buses

New Delhi: The DTC has decided to provide free rides to women in buses on Raksha Bandhan, notwithstanding a warning by contractual staffers of the public transporter to go on mass leave on the day of the festival. 

The free travel facility will be available for lady passengers in normal and air-conditioned buses, from 8 am to 10 pm on August 26, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) said in a statement. 

On Thursday, an organisation of contractual employees, Karmchari Ekta Manch, asked all contract-based drivers and conductors to go on leave en masse on Raksha Bandhan. 

The move has come in protest against reduction in wages of contract-based drivers and conductors in the wake of a recent High Court order, said the Manch leaders. 

The depot managers have issued notices to the staff, asking them not to avail leave from August 23 to August 31. 

However, if the contract-based drivers and conductors go on mass leave, the services of the DTC may be paralysed, causing inconvenience to commuters on Raksha Bandhan. 

"Keeping in view the heavy rush of commuters on Raksha Bandhan, the DTC has also decided to put its maximum buses on the road. 

The depot managers have been directed for maintenance of buses so that all of them are timely on road," the statement said. 

Sufficient number of traffic supervisory staff will be deputed on the heavy loading points for the convenience of commuters, it added. 

Drivers, conductors may go on leave 

Delhiites may face commuting problems on Raksha Bandhan as an organisation of contractual drivers and conductors working with DTC has decided to go on mass leave on the day of the festival. 

The Delhi Transport Corporation has reduced the wages of contract-based drivers and conductors following a high court order, said Contract Karmchari Ekta Manch. 

The transport department in the past had been providing free bus rides to women and girls visiting their brothers in different parts of the city to tie Rakhi on the festival. 

However, should the members of the organisation go on mass leave, DTC services may be affected. 

"All the contract employees are requested to celebrate the festival with their families and refrain from joining duty on August 26," the organisation said in a statement. 

DTC officials said that all the depot managers have been instructed to ensure availability of drivers and conductors on the day of the festival.

The depot managers have issued notices asking the employees not to avail leave from August 23 to August 31, said an official.