New Delhi:Due to the strike by the drivers of Delhi Transport Corporation buses in the capital, bus services have almost come to a standstill in many areas of the city. Passengers are facing a lot of difficulties because buses are not arriving on time from morning to evening. Drivers have taken to the streets demanding higher salaries, good medical facilities and social security. Buses did not leave from many depots and those that did leave were stopped midway. Due to this, the movement of common people has been completely disrupted.
Buses stopped at depot and problems for passengers
A large number of buses were seen standing in big depots like Burari, Nangloi, Rewala Khanpur, GTK, Nehru Place and Shadipur. The drivers were gathering there and expressing their protest. At some places, running buses were also stopped in the middle of the road and passengers were asked to alight. The result was that people were forced to resort to metro, auto or app-based cabs. Students, office-going workers and daily wage laborers were the most affected as DTC buses are their main mode of daily travel. Long queues formed at bus stops and metro stations and people were seen troubled by the overcrowding.
Real complaints from drivers
These drivers work on contract through private companies. He says that despite years of hard work, he gets very little salary. Facilities like medical insurance, paid leave or annual bonus are also not provided. According to the union, drivers with ten-fifteen years of experience are treated the same as unskilled labourers. Permanent drivers get higher wages while contract drivers are forced to come to work even when they are sick. This increases the risk to the safety of passengers.
Fear of continuation of strike
DTC Employees Unity Union has clearly said that the strike will continue till Wednesday. We are ready for talks if the demands of salary, medical facilities and social security are met. No official statement has come yet from Delhi Government and Transport Department. In such a situation, the city residents may have to face traffic problems in the coming days also.