The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) services will cease operations from Wednesday midnight following the failure of negotiations between the state government and HRTC employees. The driver and conductor union announced an indefinite strike after talks with the Transport Secretary deadlocked on Tuesday.
Union Cites Unpaid Dues of Rs 100 Crore
The union leadership stated that their pending dues have swelled to approximately Rs 100 crore, which have remained unpaid for an extended period. Union president Maan Singh Thakur said, “A meeting was scheduled with the Secretary Transport to sort out the matter, but the meeting failed to break the deadlock.” He alleged that the employees' demands were not taken seriously during the discussions.
Strike to Disrupt Bus Services Across Himachal
The strike will bring HRTC’s bus fleet to a halt, affecting thousands of commuters across the state. HRTC operates a vast network of intercity and intra-city routes, and the work stoppage is expected to cause significant disruption to public transportation. The union has vowed to continue the agitation until all pending demands are resolved.
Background of the Dispute
The employees have been pressing for payment of arrears and regularisation of salaries, which they claim have been pending for months. Despite multiple assurances from the government, the union says no concrete action has been taken. The failure of Tuesday’s meeting marked the end of the latest attempt to avert a strike.
Government Response Awaited
As of now, the state government has not issued an official statement regarding the strike. The Transport Department had earlier indicated willingness to address the employees' grievances, but the union maintains that the offers were insufficient. The strike is set to begin from midnight Wednesday unless a last-minute resolution is reached.
