Delhi, UP transport crisis solved

The six-month old transport crisis between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh has been finally solved, reports Amitabh Shukla.

The six-month old transport crisis between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh has been finally solved. This means that people living in Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut and other cities in UP can take the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses for their destinations from Saturday onwards.

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The newly appointed Transport Minister of UP, Ram Achal Rajbhar would meet his Delhi counterpart Haroon Yusuf at the Delhi Secretariat on Saturday morning. They will then proceed to the Anand Vihar Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) and jointly flag off the first batch of buses at 12 noon.

“It is a great relief for not only the people who live in the NCR towns but also the government,” said Yusuf. The minister said the intervention of UP Chief Minister Mayawati and her instructions to the officials to end the deadlock has paid off. “Most issues have been solved. We would solve the few remaining ones in the next 2-3 months and sign the transport agreement between the two states,” said Yusuf.

The crisis between the two states broke out in November last year after UP decided to unilaterally ply its buses on the city routes in Delhi. The Delhi government seized the buses saying it was “illegal” for UP to ply buses on the city routes. UP then retaliated by seizing the DTC buses on the inter-state routes. The Delhi government had to get the buses released after paying a hefty penalty.

Since then, the deadlock continued as several delegations, official level meetings and letters proved futile. However, the change in government in UP resulted in a fresh dialogue and a breakthrough after the first meeting itself.

Email author: ashukla@hindustantimes.com