Surat : Minister of State for Home and Road Transportation, Harsh Sanghavi, paid a visit to Surat on Friday to address the demands of the striking employees of the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC).
The GSRTC employees, who had initiated their strike, suspended their protest following Minister Sanghavi’s assurance to take proactive steps in meeting their demands. Simultaneously, Sanghavi issued a stern warning to private luxury bus operators in Surat and Gujarat, cautioning against charging exorbitant travel fares during the Diwali festival.
Minister Sanghavi engaged in a one-hour meeting with the leaders of the ST Nigam Union and the Finance and Transport Department to resolve the issues raised by the ST employees. The government’s swift response came in light of the employees’ grievances stemming from the failure to receive benefits due to the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission.
Addressing the occasion, State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi emphasized the ST department’s commitment to reaching the remote villages of Gujarat. He stated, “Whether it’s Holi, Rakshabandhan, or Diwali, ST employees forego their own celebrations to serve the citizens.”
During the festive season, private bus fares tend to surge, while the ST department operates approximately 8,000 buses. Additional ST buses are deployed in high-demand areas during the holidays. To ensure the comfort of those traveling from Surat to Saurashtra, Panchmahal, North Gujarat, and Maharashtra during the Diwali festivities, 2,200 extra buses will be in service from November 7 to November 11. Online ticket bookings will be available to provide convenience to passengers. Additionally, the ST Corporation’s helpline will be operational 24/7.
The Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh, Labor Mahasangh, and ST Karmachari Mandal had previously issued warnings of protests related to pending demands, making Minister Sanghavi’s intervention critical.
In light of the Diwali celebration, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation will operate extra buses to accommodate the increased demand. Meanwhile, the private bus operators’ practice of raising fares during Diwali has not gone unnoticed. Minister Sanghavi issued a clear message to these operators, promising to take action against any exploitation of citizens’ needs. Stringent measures will be taken against private bus operators engaging in any form of black market activity during the festival.
