Haryana Roadways staff strike hits commuters

Chandigarh: Commuters in Haryana had a harrowing time on Tuesday as around 20,000 Haryana Roadways employees went on a day-long strike in protest against the state government's decision to introduce 700 private buses in the state.

Nearly 4,000 buses in the state remained off roads, hitting inter-state and intra-state services.

Employees under the banner of the Haryana Roadways Karamchari Joint Action Committee even held protests and demonstrations at several bus depots including Rohtak, Jind, Sirsa, Rewari and raised slogans against the state government.

Police personnel were deployed at several bus stands to prevent any untoward incident.

"Our day long strike has been successful... Around 4,000 buses did not ply on any route in the state and 20,000 employees of Haryana Roadways participated," said Haryana Roadways Workers Union, general secretary, Sarbat Singh Punia.

Agitating employees said they would not allow the state government to launch 700 private buses in the state as it would lead to privatisation of the transport department.

"We want the Haryana government to withdraw its decision of introducing private buses in the state,' he said. They said the government should instead increase the number of buses under the roadways department.

The protesters also expressed their dejection over the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2017, alleging that it would promote privatisation of bus services.

"We have also been demanding the filling of 6,500 vacant posts lying vacant in transport department," he said. Punia said that a meeting will be held in Jind on Wednesday to deliberate on the future course of action if the state government does not accede to their demands.

He further said the government has issued notices to over 1,600 drivers who participated in the strike.