NEW DELHI: Commuters, particularly school children and office-goers, in the national capital may face inconvenience on Wednesday and day after as a number of taxi and auto unions have decided to support the two-day nationwide strike called by 11 trade unions.
Some bus unions have also extended support to the strike which is likely to affect banking sector as well.
The Delhi government has cancelled leaves of all DTC employees and asked senior officials of the corporation to be at bus depots from early morning to ensure a smooth running of bus service.
Delhi transport minister Ramakant Goswami said around 1,000 RTV (rural transport vehicles) and tourist buses will ply on DTC routes for next two days.
"These buses have been allowed to ply on DTC routes under special service. The buses would display DTC route numbers and charge DTC fares," he said.
Some autorickshaw and taxi unions said they will join the two-day nationwide strike.
A statement from chief minister Sheila Dikshit's office said all the major trade unions of DTC including DTC employees Congress, Delhi Parivehn Mazdoor Sangh, DTC Worker's Union and DTC Unity Center have agreed not to participate in the strike.
However, a section of the DTC employees said they will be part of the strike.
Noida Police on high alert
In view of nationwide strike called by trade unions, Noida Police has been put on high alert to ward off any trouble.
"Senior Superintendent of Police Shalabh Mathur has put the city on high alert and made elaborate security arrangements for the next two days to prevent violence," a senior police official said.
"Association has written to SSP requesting security on bandh days. In the past, strikes had triggered violence and damaged property," said Vipin Malhan, president of Noida Entrepreneur Association.
PAC has been alerted, bomb squad, dog squad and anti riots vehicles are also deployed, the officer said.
Banking, insurance, transport and postal services are expected to be affected during the two days stir beside a loss of production in industries.
Several states to be hit
Normal life is likely to be crippled in states like Kerala and Tripura where workers from various sectors including transport and banking are set to join the protest against the Centre's economic and labour policies.
States like West Bengal, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka and parts of Uttar Pradesh are likely to be affected significantly, Assocham president Rajkumar Dhoot said in a statement in Kolkata.
Apart from unions owing allegiance to the Left, the pro-Congress INTUC and pro-BJP BMS are also participating in the strike.
The unions have put forward a charter of 10 demands such as urgent steps to control price rise, strict enforcement of labour laws in all places of work, social security net for workers in the unorganised sector, end to disinvestment in PSUs and raising minimum wage to Rs 10,000 a month.
In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF government has declared 'dies non' (no work, no pay) as pro-Left service and teachers unions are also striking work.
The Trinammool Congress government in West Bengal also issued a circular to all its employees asking them to be present in offices failing which they would be served showcause notices.
Trade unions' two-day nationwide strike to hit transport, banking
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Trade unions' two-day nationwide strike to hit transport, banking
