High drama at Zirakpur bus stand

Zirakpur, January 23

High drama prevailed at the Zirakpur bus stand this evening when heated arguments were witnessed between employees of the PRTC and Punjab Roadways and passengers after the latter were not allowed to board public transport buses in excess of the vehicle’s seating capacity.

Jam-like situation

Hundreds of bus passengers staged a protest for around two hours at the bus stand. The resulting melee led to half a dozen buses being parked on the road. There was a jam-like situation on the main road, affecting passengers, commuters and residents.

Passengers protested for more than two hours before the bus service was resumed.

Irate passengers said the employees were not allowing them to board buses citing a January 23 Transport Department notification received by bus depots to not allow passengers more than the seating capacity of the vehicle.

Daily passengers, who board the buses coming from Chandigarh to other destinations via Zirakpur, said, “This is harassment of passengers. There is hardly any public transport or private bus which begins its journey from here,” said Nishant Singh, a passenger from Rajpura.

Passengers alleged that bus employees’ move was in retaliation to the stringent hit-and-run law. However, the employees denied any direct role in halting the bus service.

Zirakpur SHO Simranjit Singh said passengers were pacified and the bus service was restored around 7.30 pm.