Haryana Roadways strike hits transport services

The two-day strike called by the Haryana Roadways employees in support of their demands hit transport services, with buses staying off the roads across the state on the first day today, inconveniencing a large number of office-goers and others.
The buses, including the luxury Volvo service, were off the roads at most places, including Chandigarh, Ambala, Panipat, Hisar, Sirsa and other places in the state.
At various places, members of different roadways unions gathered in front of depots and stopped buses from plying, demanding regularisation of around one lakh temporary employees.
A government spokesman said officials have been asked to take effective steps to ensure services, including imposition of prohibitory orders in the vicinity of important installations and places like bus stands, electric and public health installations.

A large number of police personnel have been deployed outside the depots to deal with any untoward situation, officials said.
With other unions joining the strike, police have also been deployed in anticipation of trouble during the strike at various power stations, bus stands and other sensitive places.

Complete strike was reported in Hansi, Adampur, Barwala, Narnaund, Uklana and other parts of the district. Bus stands in these places wore a deserted look.
At Hisar, the protesting employees held a meeting near a bus stand and criticised the state government for its alleged anti-employees policies.
The strike call has been given by two major employees organisations - Sarv Karamchari Sangh and Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh.

Besides the transport department, a large number of employees from various departments of the state government are also taking part in the strike, demanding regularisation of the employees.
Haryana Roadways Employees' Union president Dalbir Kirmara said the unions were opposing the government's move to give permits to 3,519 private buses to ply under the new transport policy.
Yesterday, the talks between employees' leaders and Haryana Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed failed.
All divisional commissioners, range inspector generals and police commissioners as well as deputy commissioners in the state have been asked to take adequate precautionary measures to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the public.

The officials have been directed to deploy sufficient police force, including women personnel, for protection of important installations and other public properties.