Delhi transport minister urges protesting DTC drivers to call off strike

Transport Minister Pankaj Singh on Thursday appealed to protesting Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers to call off their strike and return to work, saying most of their demands have been accepted.

Scores of DTC drivers have stopped work for the last three days, causing inconvenience to daily commuters across the city.

“We held a meeting with the drivers and the private concessioners. Most of their demands have been approved. Only the issue related to a salary hike remains, and the government will have to take it forward after consultation with the labour department,” Singh told reporters.

“I would appeal to the drivers to call off their strike now and not get misguided,” he added.

The protesting drivers, however, said their strike would continue.

“The government should work out a solution so that we are not faced with problems in dealing with private vendors,” said Sonu Beniwal, one of the protesting drivers.

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“Our peaceful strike will continue as the transport department officials said talks are ongoing, but no concrete step has been taken yet,” he said.

Drivers at Rani Khera, Rajghat, Nehru Place, Burari, Wazirpur, Ghumanhera, Sarita Vihar and several other bus depots were on strike for the third consecutive day on Thursday.

The strike has been backed by the DTC Karamchari Ekta Union, which claimed that 90 per cent of bus drivers were on strike.