THE CALL for strike given by the contractual bus operators plying their vehicles in association with the nearly defunct Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (MPRTC) showed the greatest effect in Sarvate bus stand area.
Passengers were seen returning disappointed from bus stands of the City, barring Gangwal which had been sparred the effects of strike, and the numerous contract buses hitherto filling the stands after the MPRTC owned buses were taken off the roads presented a desolate look. Private mini-bus operators, auto rickshaws and taxies reaped benefit arising out of this situation.
A large police presence filled the Sarvate bus stand to avoid any untoward incident and save hapless passengers from misbehaviour.
RTO officials were also present on the spot. Sarvate bus stand in-charge Dinesh Khandelwal said that they would provide alternative means of transport and inter-state buses plying to and from the City functioned as on normal working days.
Contractual Bus Operators Association secretary Ashok Singh said that the members had called upon Transport Minister Himmat Kothari to discuss their problems and register their protest about increasing cost resulting from diesel, tyre prices and VAT. Transport Secretary M K Rai had assured them that some decision would be taken regarding the proposed increase in rate increase by August 15.
On seeing nothing come out of the assurance, the association called upon Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on August 21 and warned that if nothing came out of their demands they would go on strike today. The actions of Kothari in the past two days since he is in the City added fuel to the fire, as instead of working towards an agreement he served only to inflame the situation by conducting surprise checks and penalty drives, while issuing statements considered as an affront by the contractual bus operators.
{{/usCountry}}On seeing nothing come out of the assurance, the association called upon Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on August 21 and warned that if nothing came out of their demands they would go on strike today. The actions of Kothari in the past two days since he is in the City added fuel to the fire, as instead of working towards an agreement he served only to inflame the situation by conducting surprise checks and penalty drives, while issuing statements considered as an affront by the contractual bus operators.
{{/usCountry}}Motor Vehicles Bus Association State coordinator Govind Sharma and State secretary Ashok Kushwaha said that 435 contractual buses operate out of the City, most of which remained off the road on account of the indefinite strike. They warned that any move to suspend the contract of operators participating in the strike would be opposed and all of them would surrender their licences in protest.