Delhi bus drivers’ strike enters day two; Metro plans 20 extra trips

At Dwarka Sector 22 depot, Suman Gupta waited for a bus to visit her mother before deciding to wait for her son and travel by bike instead.

The drivers’ strike entered its second day on Wednesday, disrupting bus travel for students, daily-wage workers, domestic workers and elderly passengers. The protest began at Burari depot on Tuesday morning, when drivers refused to operate designated services. Buses already on routes were also stopped, and passengers were asked to alight.

Drivers, most of whom work with private operators on new electric buses, said they receive ₹862 a day and do not have medical benefits or health insurance. They said the protest would continue on Thursday despite Transport Minister Pankaj Singh’s appeal to call it off and his assurance that their concerns would be addressed.

Kunal Rai, an ARSD College student travelling from Palam Colony, said the disruption made getting to college difficult. Himanshi Dahiya, another student, said buses on her Naraina route were already infrequent during peak hours.

The DMRC said it would run 20 additional trips using eight extra trains across its network on Thursday, from 8am to 11pm.