In a significant move that is set to disrupt travel plans, private bus operators across Rajasthan have called for a massive one-day strike on December 31. The decision comes as a direct protest against the state transport department's stringent actions targeting luggage carriers installed on their vehicles.
Why Bus Operators Are Halting Services
The core of the dispute lies in the recent crackdown by transport authorities. The state transport department has issued instructions to all regional and district transport officers, mandating the removal of luggage carriers from stage carriage buses by December 31. Officials defend this move, citing serious road safety concerns. They argue that overloading of goods on these carriers frequently leads to accidents, endangering passengers and other road users.
Transport Commissioner Purusottam Sharma emphasized that the rule is being applied uniformly. "Luggage carriers are not allowed on any kind of passenger vehicles and action is being taken on both private and government buses to remove these carriers. This is very important for road safety," Sharma stated, underscoring the department's commitment to the regulation.
Unified Protest and Escalating Tensions
The bus operators, however, view this enforcement as an overreach that threatens their livelihood. Satyanarayan Sahu, the state president of the bus operators' association, revealed the scale of the impending strike. "Around 30,000 buses of all categories like sleeper, stage carriage, and contract carriage will remain on a one-day strike on December 31," Sahu announced. He clarified that the strike is a tactic to grab the government's attention, after which the association will decide its future strategy.
The discontent is not limited to bus operators. The All Rajasthan Tourist Car Association has also thrown its weight behind the protest, threatening a major demonstration in the first week of January outside the transport department's office. Dilip Singh Mehroli, a representative of the association, voiced the growing frustration. "In Rajasthan, there is an atmosphere of fear among those operating vehicles such as taxis and among the public," Mehroli claimed. He warned that if the government does not halt issuing fines (challans) for carriers, a large-scale protest will be inevitable, with all transport service organizations uniting on a single platform.
Implications and the Road Ahead
The December 31 strike is poised to cause significant inconvenience to thousands of passengers, especially during the year-end travel period. The standoff presents a classic clash between regulatory authority aiming for enhanced road safety and transport operators defending their operational practices and economic interests.
With both sides holding firm to their positions, the outcome of the one-day strike and the threatened January protest will be crucial. It will determine whether a compromise can be reached or if the state faces a prolonged period of transport unrest. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing safety regulations with the practical realities of India's private transport sector.
