Final battle for blueline operators

Owners to approach court following the city government's announcement that the private buses would go off the roads from December 14

After the Delhi government announced its decision to put the brakes on bluelines in Delhi, private bus operators have decided to seek legal recourse. A member of Delhi Bus Ekta Manch, Shyam Singh 'Gola' said: "It will affect the livelihood of thousands of people. Besides, city commuters will also suffer as there will be a shortage of buses."



Around 2,400 blueline buses operate in the Capital of which 1,600 where shunted out ahead of the Commonwealth Games last month. Out of these, 835 were allowed to ply in non-NDMC areas from last week but their permit will also be revoked by this weekend, transport department officials said. Around 8,000 employees are dependent on these buses for their livelihood.

Earlier on Monday, the city Cabinet was expected to take a decision on the fate of blueline buses. However as the meeting did not happen, later in the afternoon city transport minister Arvinder Singh lovely announced that the buses would be phased out by December 14. Before making the announcement, the minister met representatives of blueline bus operators.

u00a0"December 14 will be the last day for blueline buses in Delhi...We cannot leave people of Delhi at the mercy of these buses," Lovely said. "Government will issue a notification later this week in this regard. These 835 buses which have got permit will be taken off the roads by this weekend," he added.

The Delhi High Court had stayed the government's move to phase out the blueline buses in February this year arguing that the DTC alone was not capable to meet the requirement of public transport.
Officials said government would file an affidavit in the High Court on October 28, the next date of hearing in the case.