Passengers remain stuck due to RSRTC bus strike

JAIPUR: Passengers remained affected by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) buses’ strike that continued seventh consecutive day on Sunday. In the absence of RSRTC buses private operators continued to fleece passengers while trains to major cities remained packed.
Heavy commotion was witnessed near Polo Victory and Gopal Bari areas from where majority of private buses operate for other cities.Passengers were compelled to pay hefty fares imposed by the private bus operators. They are charging just the double of what RSRTC buses charge for destinations including Ajmer and Delhi. “For Udaipur, private operators are charging between Rs 700 and Rs 900 in this season,” said Anil Vachchani, a garment trader who is a frequent traveller to Udaipur.
Employees of RSRTC organised a ‘Baton Rally’ during the strike on Sunday from Sindhi Camp bus stand. “It appears that the RSRTC management has no concern for our demands and also on the amount of loss that is being incurred. They are not keen to have talks to resolve the issue. We will also continue our strike until our demands are met,” said an office bearer of employees’ union.
Auto-rickshaw stands, budget hotels, smaller eateries in and around Sindhi Camp bus stand also wore a deserted look. The demands of RSRTC employees’ union include purchasing of new buses, filling up vacancies, implementing the Seventh Pay Commission and benefits for retired employees, among other demands.
Super luxury buses to Delhi have been profitable ventures for the RSRTC, however due to the strike all the passengers’ load has been shifted to trains like double decker, Shatabadi Express, Aashram Express, Delhi-Ahmedabad Shatabadi. “The trains including double decker, Shatabdi Express, Aashram Express, Delhi-Ahmedabad Shatabadi are running packed for the past one week since RSRTC workers started the strike,” said an officer with the Jaipur division of North Western Railway.
The strike has badly affected the daily passengers who come to Jaipur from nearby towns including Chomu, Dausa, Sikar, Samod and Tonk.