Deadlock over UP city bus service in Delhi continues

Lucknow, Nov 15 (UNI) Deadlock between Uttar Pradesh and Delhi on the plying of the city bus service by the UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) continued even as both the governments are in touch with each other to resolve the issue.

UP Transport Minister Naresh Agarwal has been authorised by chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to discuss the issue with Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit in the national capital tomorrow.

Yesterday, the Delhi Transport Corporation had seized the CNG buses of the UPSRTC, which were started from Noida on Monday as part of the city bus service.

Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf had said the city bus service of UP might hamper the bus service of the DTC.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav here said the issue is critical and Delhi government is yet to convey the reasons for obstructing the UPSRTC city bus service.

Meanwhile, Mr Agarwal told mediapersons, ''Obstructing UPSRTC buses into the national capital area was violation of the agreement between UP and Delhi made on February 25, 2004.'' ''I had several round of talks with the Delhi government but nothing has been resolved so far'', he added.

He criticised the Delhi Transport Minister for making 'childish ' statement on obstructing the UP buses entry in Delhi, as it would create financial problems for DTC.

''In competition, everyone should be free to ply and it would be passengers, who will decide in which bus they will travel'', he said.'' In democracy, every state has the right to begin its bus service and the act of the Delhi governemnt was unjustified,'' he added.

The UPSRTC launched the city bus service between Noida-Greater Noida to Delhi on Monday with the introduction of 150 non-AC and 75 AC buses including over 100 of CNG.

Earlier in 2004, there was dispute between UP and Delhi over plying of the buses as UP wanted on Kilometer basis, while Delhi wanted on trip basis.

Later, it was resolved after an agreement was made on February 25, 2004 and DTC buses were given 90,000 kilometers per day to ply in UP and in turn UP buses were given 30,000 km in Delhi.

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