Haryana Roadways strike disrupts services in 3 districts; unions threaten statewide blockade

Bus services remained severely disrupted across several parts of Haryana on Monday as roadways employees continued their agitation over pending payments and allowances, leaving thousands of commuters facing difficulties. Operations were affected in Hisar, Hansi and Sirsa, while employees at Rohtak also staged a solidarity protest.

The protesting employees are demanding clearance of pending overtime payments, night duty allowances, leave travel concession (LTC), travelling allowance (TA) bills and medical reimbursements. With negotiations between the unions and depot managements failing to resolve the dispute, roadways unions have warned of a statewide ‘chakka jam’ on November 5 and 6, which could continue indefinitely if their demands remain unaddressed.

The disruption has affected daily commuters, including students and passengers travelling on rural and intercity routes. Private bus and auto operators have allegedly been charging higher fares amid the shortage of public transport.

Hisar loses ₹18 lakh daily as strike enters third day

In Hisar, the strike entered its third consecutive day, bringing bus operations to a near standstill and causing an estimated revenue loss of ₹18 lakh per day. More than 30,000 passengers rely on the depot's services daily.

Commuters travelling on local and rural routes, particularly those connecting Hansi, Uklana and Adampur, faced considerable difficulties. The disruption also extended to city electric bus services, with around 50 e-buses remaining off the roads.

Efforts by depot general manager Rahul Mittal and traffic manager Preetam Siwach to resolve the dispute through discussions with union representatives failed to produce an agreement. Employees insisted that the management provide a concrete resolution in writing rather than verbal assurances.

The protests have also brought attention to substantial pending dues. Some employees at Hisar are reportedly awaiting between ₹90,000 and ₹1.5 lakh in overtime payments and night duty allowances.

All 72 buses grounded in Hansi

In Hansi, all 72 buses remained off the roads for the third consecutive day as employees associated with the Haryana Roadways Joint Struggle Committee continued their protest at the depot. The protesters raised slogans against the state government and transport officials.

Committee member Manjeet Sorkhi said employees were awaiting clearance of travelling allowance bills for 2023 and 2024, 13 medical reimbursement bills, LTC claims and overtime payments pending since April.

He said employees had repeatedly submitted memorandums to the authorities since September, but their grievances had not been addressed.

The protesters also disputed a communication issued by the general manager claiming that payments for December 2025 and pending overtime dues had been cleared. They alleged that most employees had still not received the amounts.

Sirsa and Dabwali depots affected

In Sirsa, more than 100 buses remained off the roads as employees affiliated with the Roadways Karmachari Sajha Morcha staged a dharna at the bus stand.

Services connecting Sirsa with Delhi, Chandigarh, Gurugram, Pokaran and Hanumangarh were disrupted, along with several local routes. The Dabwali depot also remained shut after employees joined the agitation, affecting passengers, particularly school and college students who depend on roadways buses.

Morcha representative Chiman Lal Swami said a delegation had met Sirsa general manager Ajay Dalal to discuss the outstanding payments. However, the management's request for time until December 2 to clear the dues was rejected by the employees.

The protesters reiterated that their demands included pending overtime payments, night duty allowances, LTC, travelling allowance bills and medical reimbursements. They also said kilometre-scheme buses would remain off the roads and claimed that employees engaged through the Haryana Kaushal Rojgar Nigam were supporting the agitation.

Sirsa management promises payment within two days

Responding to the agitation, Haryana Roadways Sirsa general manager Ajay Dalal said the management had again invited the employees' negotiation committee for discussions to find an amicable solution.

“We again invited the employees’ negotiation committee for talks to find an amicable solution. They have claimed that daily allowances and medical allowances have not been paid for the past three to four years. There are also some pending TA bills pertaining to 2024-25, which we have forwarded to the headquarters for approval,” Dalal told mediapersons.

He said senior officers had assured him that the necessary approval would be obtained and the budget released. According to Dalal, once the funds were received, the department would require only two hours to process the payments.

“We have assured the employees that their dues will be cleared within a maximum of one or two days,” he added.

Rohtak employees warn of wider agitation

Meanwhile, employees at the Rohtak depot staged a symbolic one-hour protest in solidarity with their colleagues in Hisar, Hansi and Sirsa. Members of the Roadways Employees Joint Front demanded that the government resolve the pending payment issues without further delay.

Union representative Suresh Nehra said employees in Hisar had been protesting since October 31. He warned that any action against protesting workers in Hisar or Sirsa would prompt employees in Rohtak to shut the depot gates and join the agitation.

Nehra said the transport minister had sought one month's time to address the employees' demands during discussions on September 8. However, more than a month and a half had passed without a resolution.

Statewide strike call covers 24 depots and 13 sub-depots

The proposed November 5 and 6 blockade follows an earlier announcement by the Haryana Roadways Karamchari Sanjha Morcha, which had given the state government a November 4 deadline to issue official orders addressing its pending demands.

The unions have said around 20,000 employees working across 24 depots and 13 sub-depots could participate in the statewide agitation.

Apart from pending allowances and reimbursements, the broader list of demands includes a revision of pay grades for drivers, conductors and clerical staff, clearance of outstanding Diwali bonuses, restoration of 33 earned leaves, regularisation of drivers recruited in 2016 and promotions for conductors awaiting advancement since 2008.

Employees have also demanded fresh recruitment of drivers, conductors and workshop staff, along with implementation of other service-related benefits.

The unions warned that the two-day blockade could be extended indefinitely if the government failed to address their grievances. They said the agitation could spread to additional depots across Haryana, potentially bringing state-run bus services to a halt.