Delhi govt warns truant blueline drivers to resume opn in 7 days

New Delhi, July 12 (UNI) Faced with a depleted fleet of buses in operation after many operators kept vehicles off roads due to the ongoing campaign against bluelines, the Delhi Government today issued a warning to the drivers not running their buses to resume operations within seven days or face action under the Essential Services Maintainence Act.

Addressing reporters after a review meeting of the Transport Department called to decide on steps to ease the transport crisis, Delhi Transport Minister Haroon yousuf said the drivers not running their buses had been warned to bring their vehicles on the road within seven days.

He said a warning had also been issued to the auto and taxi operators as well that anyone found fleecing the commuter would be punished.

Reiterating the state Government's commitment to phase out the bluelines, Mr Yousuf said nearly 1000 DTC buses operating on routes in the National capital region would be put on the city's roads from tomorrow to supplement the bus service.

Further, the DTC buses engaged in public schools were also being diverted for public transport purposes.

He said the Uttar Pradesh government had agreed to put in operation the buses of its Transport Department on the route between Delhi and Noida.

The Minister claimed that a total of 2800 DTC buses would be on the city roads by tomorrow morning.

In addition, the state government has issued a notice in newspapers inviting applications from corporate houses for operation of buses on routes in need of them.

The Capital has been plunged into a public transport crisis since yesterday after several blueline drivers kept their buses off the roads keeping in view of the campaign by the Delhi Police and the state Transport Department to 'on-the-spot' challan any driver contravening rules.

A total of 700 buses have been impounded on the first two days of the campaign by the state Transport Department.

UNI