India: Haryana bus strike to affect several states through Oct. 19

Event

On Wednesday, October 17, employees with Haryana Roadways announced they plan to extend their strike affecting bus services through at least Friday, October 19, after the government took disciplinary action (including terminations and suspensions) against bus drivers who had participated in the first two days of the strike, which launched on October 16. Delays and cancelations on bus routes, as well as increased demand for alternative modes of transportation, should be expected for the duration of the strike in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh, as well as the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). Further extensions of the strike cannot be ruled out.

Context

The strike was organized to protest the government's new bus privatization scheme, which the union claims would damage the "public and employees' interests." The governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party appears determined to implement the privatization system and has remained disinterested in the union's counterplan of increasing the number of buses.

Advice

Potentially affected travelers in the abovementioned states are advised to monitor developments to the situation, confirm travel reservations, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities and their home governments.