Delhi Govt. warns of invoking ESMA against striking Blueline bus operators

The Delhi Government has threatened to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the striking private bus operators in the national capital, if they failed to bring their Blueline buses back on roads by Tuesday.

New Delhi, Oct 15 : The Delhi Government has threatened to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the striking private bus operators in the national capital, if they failed to bring their Blueline buses back on roads by Tuesday.

State Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf said that "If they can't bring their buses on the road by tomorrow we will cancel their permits," adding if situation didn't improve by Tuesday the Government could consider the option of invoking the ESMA.

"Strict action would be taken against the drivers trying to blackmail the government and exploiting the situation," he said.

Blueline bus drivers in Delhi went on an indefinite strike on Monday in protest against the stringent stand taken by the Government of Delhi in the wake of the recent spate of accidents precipitated on Delhi roads by Blueline buses.

Only 1,500 Blueline buses and 3,000 DTC buses plied today.

Due to the strike by private Blueline buses commuters had a harrowing time.

Meanwhile, Delhi Cabinet today approved the procurement of new buses for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) by March 2009.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told newspersons after the Cabinet meeting that,500 fully built CNG buses will be procured.

The High Court had recently asked the government to explain its stand and tell the court of the measures that the government planned to take to solve the problem of Blueline buses. The deadline given by the court is November 15.

ANI