Tit for tat: HRTC,CTU continue bickering

“Instead of providing service to the public,the respective State Transport Undertakings are proving to be a public inconvenience. It is surprising that the Administration has not taken a firm stand against such highhandedness yet. The unions are making the most of the Administration’s neglect in formulating a set of guidelines,” lamented a commuter,who had to take an autorickshaw from the Housing Board lightpoint to reach the HPSC examination centre in Sector 32,Chandigarh.

CTU buses were not allowed to enter Panchkula and returned from the Mansa Devi railway crossing. “As our buses have not been allowed to ply on the Ramgarh to PGI route,we are not allowing CTU buses to reach Pinjore,Kalka and Nada Sahib. If the issue is not resolved,we will take to stopping CTU buses on long routes like Ambala,Delhi and Karnal from Monday,” said Haryana Roadways Union Lal Chand Kasana.

But CTU president Jagdish Singh said: “Our next action will depend on the meeting with the Home Secretary,scheduled for Monday. The CTU covers all local routes and we do not require the services of buses from other states in the city. Today if we allow buses from Haryana to enter the city,then tomorrow buses from other states like Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will demand for the same.”

CTU director M L Sharma denied that any HRTC buses were stopped in Chandigarh today. “I have warned all CTU employees not to take the law into their hands or they will have to face dire consequences. There were some instances of disruption in Panchkula but not in Chandigarh.”

Despite repeated attempts,HRTC General Manager K S Kalsan could not be contacted.