Majority of Blueline buses back on roads
New
Delhi,
Oct
16:
A
day
after
the
Delhi
Government
threatened
to
impose
ESMA,
in
response
to
the
Blueline
operators
going
off
the
roads
to
protest
the
ongoing
drive
by
the
Delhi
Police,
a
majority
of
the
Bluelines
today
returned
to
operations,
somewhat
easing
the
public
transport
situation
in
the
city.
''Almost all the Bluelines have returned to the roads today,'' spokesman of the Bus Ekta Manch Shyam Lal Gola said.
The Delhi Government had threatened to invoke the ESMA against blueline bus operators after over 1500 Blueline operators stayed off the roads yesterday protesting the drive against them by the Delhi Police and the state Government after last Sunday's horrific accident at Badarpur.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit reiterated her Government's resolve that it would not allow anyone to cause inconvenience to the public. At the same time, she said bus operators were welcome for talks with the Government regarding any grievances.
''We have given the operators an open invitation for talks. If the Bus operators have any grievances, they are welcome for talks.
But anyone inconveniencing the public will be dealth with sternly.'' The absence of the Bluelines yesterday caused severe inconvenience to the public with commuters having to contend with fewer buses. Also, whatever little buses were available, ran overcrowded.
Gola said the bus operators were aggrieved over the drive against Bluelines when accordiong to them they alone could not be held responsible for the frequent accidents.
Also, he felt that all Blueline operators were being penalised due to the fault of some drivers.
UNI