National transport strike spells misery for commuters

Normal life was hit in several parts of the country, including the national Capital, on Thursday. Employees of state transport corporations and some private operators went on a 24-hour strike against the proposed Motor Bill, ignoring the Centre’s appeal to call it off.

Commuters faced hardship in Kerala with buses, taxis and autorickshaws going off the roads, while transport services were hit in Karnataka, Punjab, Guajart, Assam and Haryana.

The employees of state transport services proceeded on a 24-hour strike on the call of trade unions against the Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2015, ignoring Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s assurances that the Bill does not infringe upon the rights of state transport authorities and their concerns will be addressed.

The strike has been called jointly by national level road transport bodies representing both public and private sector workers, affiliated to central trade unions like AITUC, CITU, BMS, INTUC, HMS, AICCTU, LPF and state-level outfits. They are protesting against provisions in the Bill, which include obtaining fitness certificates even for light motor vehicles regularly and stringent penalties for driving offences. Gadkari termed their concerns “premature” and said wide consultations would be held with all stakeholders on the bill before enacting it.

Bus services remained paralysed in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh with state roadways and private buses remaining off the road. About 3,000 buses and trucks in Pathankot have joined the strike. Commuters  had a tough time in Thiruvananthapuram and Karnataka. Incidents of stone-pelting on buses were reported from different parts of Karnataka.