JAIPUR: More than 2 lakh daily commuters who take the low floor buses in the city, will face inconvenience from Monday as the Jaipur City Transport Service Limited ( JCTSL ) drivers and other staff have announced to go on strike for two days.Total 280 buses will remain parked in city depots. On Sunday, the employees also staged a dharna at all three depots in the city.The JCTSL employees’ union has presented 24-point agenda, including salary hike as per the 7th pay commission provisions. The memorandum reads, “The JCTSL should pay Rs 18,000 salary to the contracted employees as the existing salary is very less and this is affecting physical and mental health of the drivers.”The JCTSL drivers are also demanding night allowance and ESI for those who are not included in the list. Protesting employees are also demanding arrears in dearness allowance and bonus. Moreover, employees have asked the JCTSL management and operators not to increase income targets per month.The JCTSL employees have threatened that the strike could be extended, if their demands are not met.Fear looms large among thousands of commuters who will be stranded on roads from Monday, after the strike begins. A similar strike that continued for more than five days before Diwali last year, gave commuters in the capital a tough time.Source at JCTSL added, “After the services discontinue, the commuters of longer routes will face a massive problem. If JCTSL buses go off road, there is no other means of transport that could accommodate public in large numbers. Due to this, the traffic pressure will have to be handled by the remaining fleet. Majority of buses are already unfit for roads. Overloading may lead to accidents or breakdown.”It was informed, the fleet of JCTSL buses ferry passengers over 250 square km area. After the strike, the city would come to a standstill for two days, as there is no other alternative mode of public transport in the city.Suresh Kumar Ola , managing director, said, “We are having a dialogue with the private drivers and conductors not to join the strike. Their major demand is salary hike, that should be on par with the state government employees. Moreover, the salary should be increased as per the 7th pay commission provisions. However, this decision can only be taken at the state government level.” He added, “Other demands such as medical allowance, timely payment of salary, were fulfilled by the JCTSL.”

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