Despite stiff opposition from roadways Union, Khattar says no going back on km scheme

Notwithstanding stiff opposition from the Haryana Roadways Employees Union, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said the Transport Department's kilometre scheme will not be scrapped.

Khattar told the state assembly that there was no question of scrapping the scheme and he remains firm on introducing it.

"The scheme will be introduced," Khattar said on floor of the House on the concluding day of the monsoon session of the assembly after Congress leader Karan Singh Dalal pointed to alleged irregularities in tenders.

The government has scrapped tender for 510 buses under the scheme after finding certain financial irregularities in an inquiry.

Under the scheme, private buses would be hired by the government for plying on certain identified routes and drivers would be of private party, but the conductor would be a government employee.

The private operator would be paid on kilometre basis under the scheme.

The roadways employees union has maintained that the scheme would eventually lead to privatisation of the Haryana Roadways.