Govt warns of action for not plying buses in Delhi

Chandigarh, Nov 30 (UNI) The Haryana government has appealed to the Haryana Roadways employees not to resort to agitation and review their decision of not to ply buses in Delhi tomorrow.

Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Transport Ramendra Jakhu and Transport Commissioner M Ramsekhar told media persons here today that the government had made all arrangements so that buses could reach Inter-state Bus Terminus (ISBT) in Delhi on December one.

He said that videography of the buses reaching Delhi would be made and those employees, who would try to disrupt the bus services, action would be taken against them for dereliction of duty.

He said that refresher courses would be conducted for the drivers to acquaint and sensitize them of the driving discipline in heavy traffic conditions existing in New Delhi.

He assured the employees that the matter of challaning the buses by Delhi Police would be taken up with the Delhi Police Commissioner in a meeting on December six and all the issues relating to problems of Haryana Roadways drivers would be taken up.

He said that Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul and Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police (Traffic) Qamar Ahmed had also written a letter to him and had assured that Haryana Roadways buses would not be challaned on arbitrary grounds or for whimsical reasons.

He said that after the assurance by Delhi police there was no justification to stop the buses on Delhi border.

He said that during last eight months, 898 challans of Haryana Roadways buses were issued by the Delhi Police. He said that Haryana Roadways buses were taking 1780 trips daily to Delhi and in those buses about 5000 commuters were travelling to and fro.

He urged the employees that they should give him in writing against the whimsical challans being done by the Delhi Police.

Mr Jakhu reiterated that he had not received any written complaint on behalf of any driver so far. He assured that after receiving the complaint in written, the department would take prompt action.

To a question Mr Jakhu maintained that there was no plan to impose 'ESSMA' as the matter would be sorted out amicably, he said that Haryana Roadways Employees Union No 1 had called on him and assured him that they had decided not to participate in the agitation.

While referring the facilities being provided to the Haryana Roadways employees in the state, Mr Jakhu said that Transport Department had given ex-gratia in lieu of bonus to the Haryana Roadways employees which had an additional financial burden of Rs 13.50 crore.

He said that night shift allowances had also been doubled from Rs six to 12 thus government had to bear the additional burden of Rs 25 lakh per annum. He said that similarly shoe allowances had also been increased from Rs 300 to Rs 600 which also entails additional expenditure of Rs 50 lakh per annum.

Transport Commissioner M Ramsekhar revealed that government has decided to recruit 900 drivers and 1800 conductors and Haryana Roadways had provided a sum of Rs 32 crore to the employees as overtime duty.

Some of the drivers were getting a pay of Rs 28,000 per month including bonus, he added.

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