The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) on Friday stepped up efforts to restore bus services disrupted by the contractual drivers’ strike, temporarily redeploying 2,693 contractual drivers across depots even as commuters continued to face delays and shortages on several routes on the fourth day of the agitation.
Commuters reported long waits at bus stops, while many turned to the Metro, autos and e-rickshaws. The arrangement will remain in force until further orders, with the corporation clarifying that the temporary attachment would not amount to a permanent transfer or posting. The contractual drivers are striking over demands such as higher wages and improvements in service conditions. The drivers, however, maintained that the issue had not been resolved. At some places, people are also pelting stones at buses and shattering windows. This is not just destruction of property but also an attack on us to demoralise us.”
The move came as more than 3,000 buses were reported to be off the roads, according to figures cited by the protesting union. The strike began on September 15 and has affected bus-dependent commuters across Delhi. On Friday, more than 3,000 buses were functional, according to officials, but gaps in services remained in several parts of the city.
Drivers were temporarily relieved from their existing depots and attached to locations where they were required to maintain bus operations, according to an order issued by DTC’s personnel department. DTC officials said the temporary redeployment was being used to increase the number of buses operating on routes where services had been hit by the strike. Contractual driver Gaurav Gupta said, “Our peaceful strike will continue as the transport department officials said talks are ongoing, but no concrete step has been taken yet.
Delhi transport minister Pankaj Singh said on Thursday that most of the drivers’ demands had been accepted, with the issue of a salary hike still being considered by the concessionaires.
