'Chakka jam' by UP Roadways employees leaves many stranded

Lucknow, July 11 (UNI) The 24-hour 'chakka jam' call given by employees of the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSTRC) today created hardships for thousands of inter-state and intra-state commuters.

The 'chakka jam', which commenced at midnight yesterday, would end at 0015 hrs tomorrow.

The blockade call was given after state Transport minister Naresh Aggarwal refused to entertain a delegation of roadways employees who had gone to meet him with a charter of 18 demands. The agitating employees claimed the minister was not ''curteous'' with them.

Hundreds of roadways buses were parked at several bus terminals from midnight.

Some buses, which could not reach the terminals at the time of commencement of the blockade were parked on highways, leading to furious exchanges between employees and stranded passengers.

A large number of government employees posted in the UP capital, but residing in neighbouring districts, use buses to travel to work.

The most affected were passengers living in areas adjoining the National Capital who use the service to commute between Delhi and surrounding areas, including Meerut.

Although the exact number was not immediately known, passengers also used trains to commute between districts. Private buses operating between districts and adjoining states, including Delhi, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh had a field day.

Police said there were some reports of roadways employees stopping private buses. But, no untoward incident was reported.

The employees' union said if the minister refused to relent, they would launch indefinite strike from the midnight of August 14-15.

A report from Varanasi said commoners, preferring bus travel were the worst sufferers as none of the over 230 state transport buses originating from three bus terminals in Varanasi were allowed to ply by the agitating employees.

Commuters had to either take the overcrowded private buses or travel by train to their destinations.

According to rough estimates, UPSRTC would incur a revenue of loss of Rs 3 crore due to the strike. The UPSRTC runs over 660 non-AC buses and a few hundred AC luxury coaches.

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