The 3 operators chose the words “Operational failure due to non availability of funds” rather than ‘strike’
Nagpur: The three operators of Aapli Bus in city have issued a veiled threat to go on strike with immediate effect if Nagpur Municipal Corporation failed to clear their pending dues. The three operators chose the words “Operational failure due to non availability of funds” rather than calling it ‘strike.’
In letters sent to Municipal Commissioner, Transport Manager, Additional Commissioner and Chief Accounts and Finance Officer (CAFO) on Friday, October 26, the three operators of Aapli Bus – Traveltime City Bus Services (Nagpur) Pvt Ltd, RK City Bus Operations (Nagpur) Pvt Ltd and Hansa City Bus Services (Nagpur) Pvt Ltd – have pointed out the amounts of pending dues to around Rs 37 crore as on October 25, 2018. The NMC has to pay Rs 12.45 crore to Hansa, Rs 12 crore to RK and Rs 12.70 crore to Traveltime as pending dues.
The three operators said they had earlier communicated thrice to the NMC Administration demanding clearance of their dues. The three operators had also held meeting with Chief Accounts and Finance Officer on Thursday, October 25 regarding release of funds. But in the meeting, they did not any confirmation/ assurance regarding the clearance of their outstanding payments. “By this month end, we need funds to clear the wages, Deepawali bonus, vendor payment, bank EMIs, fuel payments etc. Without the funds, we could not be able to pay Deepawali bonus and October salary to employees before Deepawali festival,” the operators pointed out.
The three operators further said, “Operational failure with immediate effect may happen until the breached contracted terms and the promises to all stakes holders made in steering meeting are fulfilled.”
Considering the letters to top NMC bosses and the words “Operational failure due to non availability of funds,” the three operators Traveltime City Bus Services (Nagpur) Pvt Ltd, RK City Bus Operations (Nagpur) Pvt Ltd and Hansa City Bus Services (Nagpur) Pvt Ltd have issued a veiled threat to go on strike with immediate effect. The strike by Aapli Bus is sure to put lakhs of commuters to enormous hardships.
