BHOPAL : The around 500 Drivers and Conductors of 150-odd Low-floor buses operating on eight routes of the city remained on strike for the second day on Thursday. Only around 50 buses operated.
Thousands of people commuting on these routes had to face a lot of problems due to this sudden strike. BMC Additional Commissioner and Bhopal City Link Limited (BCCL) CEO Chandramauli Shukla tried to negotiate with the workers but his words fell on deaf ears.
The drivers and conductors are protesting the new incentive-based system proposed to be adopted by the firm from May 1. The strike was declared illegal by the Assistant Labour Commissioner on Wednesday and notices were served on the operating company and six employees under the Industrial Disputes Act 1947 asking them why prior intimation regarding the proposed strike was not given.
The Bhopal City Link Limited entered into contract with three private companies to operate around 200 Low-floor buses on various routes of the city. Out of these 200 buses, 150 are being operated by Prasanna Purple Mobility and Solution Pvt Ltd. (PPMSPL)
The drivers and conductors want that the target-based incentive system should be withdrawn and that management personnel should not misbehave with them in the buses. They complained that they are frisked after submitting the daily transaction report. The management wants to end the contract and is in search for an excuse and that is why impractical targets have been set. They said that the penalty for not achieving the target was Rs 250 while they were paid merely Rs 166 per day.
Neem Sarkar, City General Manager PPMSPL talking to Free Press said, “We tried to pacify the workers saying that no action will be taken against them for the next one month but they were not ready to listen. Now we would start fresh recruitment. We have asked BCLL if they can provide some workers. We will start the operations as soon as possible. There are around 20-25 persons who are creating trouble by instigating the workers. Their services would be terminated.”
