3 days ago
Delhi Bus Drivers’ Strike Enters Second Day, Disrupting Commuters
Delhi bus drivers stopped working for a second day.
This means fewer buses are available for people traveling around the city.
Some parents are also unsure whether school buses will operate.
The drivers want better pay, medical help and overtime payments.
They also object to being charged when a bus is damaged.
The transport minister asked them to return to work.
He said the government wants to hear and solve their problems.
The drivers say discussions have not produced a clear solution yet.
Schools are making temporary plans for students who need transportation.
The Delhi Transport Corporation bus drivers’ strike entered its second day on Wednesday, reducing bus availability across the city.
Transport Minister Pankaj Singh appealed to drivers to end the strike and said their concerns would be addressed.
Drivers are seeking higher daily wages, medical coverage, overtime payment and removal of penalties for bus damage.
Schools, including Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, reported uncertainty over bus services and arranged alternatives for some journeys.
The city has about 6,500 DTC buses serving approximately 60 lakh passengers daily.
- Who
- Delhi Transport Corporation bus drivers, Transport Minister Pankaj Singh, commuters and affected schools.
- What
- DTC bus drivers continued a strike that disrupted public and school transportation.
- Where
- Delhi, including areas served by DTC buses and schools.
- When
- The strike entered its second day on Wednesday.
- Why
- Drivers are demanding higher daily wages, medical facilities, overtime payment and removal of penalties for bus damage.
Drivers and union representatives
Transport authorities and commuters
Whether the strike should continue
Drivers and union representatives
Drivers and the DTC Karamchari Ekta Union say the strike should continue because their wage, medical and payment concerns have not received a concrete solution.
Transport authorities and commuters
Transport Minister Pankaj Singh appealed to drivers to withdraw the strike, saying essential services should not be affected and that their issues would be addressed.
Government outreach
Drivers and union representatives
Union president Lalit Chaudhary said no government representatives had reached out, while driver Sonu said the government had made contact but offered no concrete solution.
Transport authorities and commuters
Singh said the government had directed private concessioners managing DTC electric buses to resolve the drivers’ issues immediately.
Impact of the strike
Drivers and union representatives
Drivers characterized the strike as peaceful and said they had decided not to operate buses until their demands were addressed.
Transport authorities and commuters
Commuters reported fewer buses and difficulties with daily travel, while schools warned that bus operations were uncertain and arranged alternative transportation.
Key facts
- Strike status
- The DTC drivers’ strike entered its second day on Wednesday.
- Main demands
- Higher daily wages, medical facilities, overtime payment and removal of bus-damage penalties.
- Reported wage
- Drivers said they receive Rs 862, the minimum wage fixed by the Delhi government.
- DTC fleet
- Delhi has around 6,500 DTC buses.
- Daily ridership
- DTC buses carry around 60 lakh passengers per day.
- School buses previously provided
- DTC had provided more than 350 buses to schools before stopping the service from the 2023 academic session.
- Current special-needs provision
- Only 8-10 buses have been provided to some schools for specially abled children.
Quotes
Lalit Chaudhary
President of the DTC Karamchari Ekta Union
“We have directed the private concessioners managing the DTC electric buses to sort the issues with drivers immediately. Also, I would like to appeal to the drivers to withdraw the strike. We are here to listen to your issues, essential services should not be affected”
thehansindia.com
“It is very difficult for us to mange in the salary that we are getting, there is no medical coverage for us. The government has reached out to us but no concrete solution has been worked out yet, so the strike will continue”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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