Government threatens invocation of ESMA: Blue line buses back on roads

NI Wire

New Delhi

Tue, 16 Oct 2007: 

Oct 16: On Monday Delhi commuters were plunged into problems as private bus drivers kept the buses off the roads to protest against the steps taken against them by the traffic police of Delhi. Within three days almost 500 buses wereetained in legal custody by the traffic police for violation of Motor Vehicle act.

Several of them even refused to resume services on Tuesday saying that they are being targeted by the court. Though the spokes person of the Drivers Ekta Manch assured that they will resume services on Tuesday. At the same time he had his own grievances on behalf of the whole association and said, “This is not fair to hold only the bus drivers responsible for all the wrongs.”

On Monday the private bus drivers went on strike. They also held a meeting in Punjabi Bagh under the banner of ‘Drivers Ekta Manch’, an association of blue line bus drivers. Those encroaching lanes meant for buses only, those who get down from the running buses, and those travelling on the foot board should also be held responsible and acted against.”

They decided to come back on roads when threatened by the government to invoke ESMA against bus operators and cancelling their permits.

What an irony the presence of the blue line buses also created problems for people so did their absence so much that the Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf warned of a strict action if they don’t come back on the roads. He ruled out working of any pressure tactics saying that strict action would be taken against the bus drivers who are trying to blackmail the government and exploiting the situation.

A lot of burden of commuters was bored by the metro which always proves a relief despite its short coverage. Metro carried around 6.6 lakh passengers.