Delhi Metro strike set to intensify: Will services come to halt on June 30

Delhi Metro might be staring at a shutdown of services from June 30 as its 9,000-strong workforce have threatened to go on a strike from June 30.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) non-executive employees have been taking part in sit-in protests at different metro stations, wearing black armbands.

The non-executive workforce, such as train operators, station controllers, technicians, operations staff, maintenance staff, etc, play a critical role in running the Delhi Metro network.

"There would be no maintenance of trains and trains will not be rolled out of train depots.

Station controllers would ensure that entry to metro stations is also closed for public," Ravi Bharadwaj, secretary, DMRC staff council told The Times of India on Wednesday.

Some of the non-executive staff of the DMRC have been demonstrating at the Yamuna Bank and Shahdara metro stations since June 19 to pitch for their eight-point demand.

The council said the demands have been sent to Delhi Metro authorities and the Union Urban Affairs Ministry, seeking redressal of their grievances.

"Our first demand is that that the DMRC Staff Council be changed to a DMRC employees union as the council is not a constitutional body and so, it does not have any teeth.

"Other demands include implementation of our Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) as per the 3rd pay revision scale," the council's secretary, Ravi Bhardwaj, said.

He said on first day many employees, from drivers to station controllers and other staff wore black armbands to register their protest.

"Subsequently, when the DMRC did not take cognisance of our demands, we went on symbolic hunger strike, when many of our members did not consume food while on duty and demonstrated by sitting on platforms," he said.

According to the DMRC, there are a total of 12,000 people employed with the transporters.

"There are some HR issues, which we hope, would be resolved," a senior DMRC official said.

Bhardwaj claimed that non-executive staff comprised "about 9,000 of the total employee base".

A call was sent out by the council to the members to join the stir, but not everyone has participated in the agitation.

"If our demands are not met in next few days, we will go on complete hunger strike and work in that condition, and drivers will drive trains in that condition. And, if anything happens to our members or to commuters then the DMRC shall be responsible for it," Bhardwaj said.

"Even then if our voices are not heard by DMRC authorities, we will completely stop work," he claimed.