Overloading during Covid pandemic

On the issue of transfer of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation Regional Manager Devsen Negi to Chopal on the behast of private bus operators lobby choked the Transport of Capital town on Friday.
A minor scuffle between the private bus operators and HRTC Management during a Road Transport meeting created massive public inconvenience on Friday evening leaving the thousands of comuters on the monopoly of private bus operators to travel in overloaded buses in violation of Covid rules.

Entire staff of Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation of unit-2 suddenly choked the old ISBT Shimla at 1730hrs on Friday on the response of transfer of RM Shimla Devasen Negi to Chopal unit by the Jai Ram Thakur Government.

President HRTC driver conductor union (unit -2) Maan Singh told UNI that they are seeking withdrawal of transfer of RM with immediate effect if State Government didn’t resolve the deadlock entire HRTC union may join them shortly.

The Protesting staff alleged that Jai Ram Thakur Government is helping Pvt Bus Operator loby vis a vis to HRTC as it’s Officers was transferred to favour the self-styled Pvt bus lobby who are in violation of rules like arbitrary timing over -loading, speeding and road rage with HRTC driver conductor on the various route.
“Unless RM is not restored back to his position we would not  run the HRTC fleet in the town,” the Protesting staff alleged as they sit on Dharna at ISBT Shimla.
The commutters were left on the mercy of Pvt bus lobby which loaded the buses many times beyond capacity and running their buses beyond their routes.
Thousands of comuters who tavel in hundreds of routes between Shimla and it’s periphery upto 60 to 65 km are force to board taxis, take lift, travel in overloaded Pvt buses and walk onfoot for miles.
Keeping the public inconvenience in mind this Correspondent tried to contact Chief Minister Liasion office but no response came out. 
State Transport Minister couldn’t able to resolve the deadlock till this morning. Many comuters have to faced same hardships to carry them  their routine business and offices.

The HRTC is already bleeding with accumulated loss of Rs 700 to 800 Cr likely to be further burden due to apathy of govt and it’s affiliation and affection with the private bus operators as Govt have increased the bus fare twice in last couple of years to favour them.
The apathy of State towards the public transport seemed to be not only a matter of policy but many govt and rulling party functionaries are themselves in the private business of private Transport some of them owns buses and cabs could expected not to be fare.
Hundreds of HRTC routes have been in Limbo or inoperative for last one year and hundreds others are being operated less frequently citing lack of passengers, Covid pandemic .