GURUGRAM: Haryana Roadways employees’ union has decided to go on strike for two days — October 16 and 17 — to oppose the state transport department’s decision to include 700 private buses in its fleet.A total of 4,000 buses in the state, including 214 in the city, are expected to keep off the roads on Tuesday and Wednesday. Around 12 lakh people travel daily in these buses.The state government recently hired private buses (on kilometre basis) to be operated within and from the state. Sandeep Dalal, Gurugram president, Haryana road transport union, said, “The government is introducing a scheme that will destroy our bus services. Why would anyone want to travel in Haryana Roadways buses when they have the option to travel in new private buses?”The “chakka” jam would be implemented at all bus depots in the state, said the union leaders. “We have decided to go on strike as the state government is not looking into our demands. Its aim is to ensure that private players get maximum benefits,” added Dalal.On August 7, commuters had a tough time after the Roadways employees went on a nationwide strike for amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act. From August 30, the government had imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in the state to prevent a one-day strike proposed by the union on September 5. Following that, the call for a strike had fizzled out. However, Anoop Singh, state president, Haryana road transport union, said, “We don’t care about ESMA and none of us will work for the next two days.”On the other hand, the transport department is in no mood to relent and said that the state buses had been able to cater to only 12 lakh of the 33 lakh daily passengers. “We will not allow this strike. ESMA is in force,” said an official.

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