Editor’s Note
A strike by private sleeper bus operators in Rajasthan has commenced, reportedly in response to new safety enforcement measures. The disruption is expected to impact approximately 300,000 daily passengers.
Private sleeper bus operators in Rajasthan have gone on strike starting today. The stated reason is the actions being taken in the name of safety. The strike will affect nearly 300,000 passengers who travel daily on private buses.
The question is whether this is truly a safety issue or a strategy to exert pressure by weaponizing public necessity. Following accidents in Jaisalmer and Manoharpur, the Transport Department began cracking down on illegal bus operations and dangerous body designs. In protest, the All Rajasthan Contract Carriage Bus Association announced a strike. As a result, thousands of sleeper buses across the state have come to a halt. The strike has been called at a time when thousands of people are traveling to attend weddings during the Devuthani Ekadashi and Abhujh Saave festivals.
This means not all operators are in favor of the strike, yet thousands of passengers are facing difficulties.
Operations of sleeper buses from Jaipur to Delhi, Agra, Hathras, and Lucknow continued until late last night. A Patrika correspondent observed that buses were running normally on major routes in the city, including Transport Nagar. One bus operator indicated that the situation regarding the strike would become clear on Saturday.
The private bus operators’ strike is certain to directly impact the Saave festivals starting Sunday. Many people booked buses months in advance for the Saave, but now with the strike starting today and bus operations halted, uncertainty looms over whether people will get buses for the festival.
The strike by private sleeper buses has directly impacted important long-distance routes. Operations of buses originating from Jaisalmer have completely stopped. Additionally, bus services to cities like Jodhpur, Barmer, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Bikaner, and Indore have also been affected.
