Bus operators reject Govt proposals to intensify stir

NEW DELHI, June 30: The private bus operators today rejected all the proposals of the Delhi Government and announced intensification of thei...

NEW DELHI, June 30: The private bus operators today rejected all the proposals of the Delhi Government and announced intensification of their protest from tomorrow. The bus unions also threatened to go on an indefinite strike at the Chief Minister’s residence if the Government did not concede their demands.

According to the bus union, STA Nyaya Panchayat, about 700 private buses still plying on Delhi routes would also be withdrawn tomorrow unless the Government grants permits under the State Transport Authority (STA) scheme, instead of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).

The decision was taken at a general body meeting of the panchayat held today. The union,led by its president Ramesh Dalal, will again hold talks with the Delhi Transport Minister Rajendra GUpta tomorrow.

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With all schools reopening within a week, the DTC would have to pull out 800 buses from scheduled routes during peak hours and the commuters would be put to further hardship in view of the 700 buses joining the strike, Dalal said.

The Government had put forward unfeasible proposals to bring the private operators under DTC as the corporation did not have adequate staff to run private buses, he alleged.