Millions hit across India as buses, taxis stay off road

Kolkata/Chandigarh/Thiruvananthapuram, April 30 , 2015: Millions of people across India faced a harrowing time on Thursday as buses and taxis did not ply to protest a bill that makes punishment for traffic violations much more stringent. Passengers were left stranded at railway stations in various cities as public transport went off the road. People were forced to trudge with heavy luggage and office-goers too were hit hard. The strike is part of the nationwide agitation by major trade unions demanding repeal of the Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2014, and alleged anti-worker policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government. The protest is against the hefty penalties that are proposed in the new bill such as Rs.50,000 for rash driving, Rs.10,000 for drunken driving and up to Rs.6,000 for over-speeding. The bill is to be put before the cabinet for approval. The bill also proposes a regulatory authority, not only to advise the central and state governments on road safety, but also have the powers to ensure that the norms laid down are followed by all stake-holders. Transporters say the penalties, along with the proposed norms on testing of vehicles, road-worthiness, licensing, among others, are too stringent. The ministry of road transport and highways says this is necessary so as to reduce road accidents by at least 200,000 over the next five years, as opposed to some 490,000 accidents each year - 25 percent of them fatal in nature. State roadways, private buses and taxis did not ply across Haryana, causing misery to thousands of passengers. Buses remained parked at bus stands or bus depots, and passengers were left stranded.