Salem: Private bus employees staged a strike in Salem city on Tuesday opposing the state govt’s decision to extend the free travel scheme for women to express, LSS, and deluxe govt buses. The announcement was made by chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday, triggering strong resistance from private bus operators.At the Salem Central Bus Stand, private buses bound for outstation routes were halted and kept off the roads. Drivers, conductors, and other staff gathered inside the terminal, raising slogans demanding the withdrawal of the scheme.The protesting workers argued that the free travel plan, already in force in city buses, is severely impacting the revenue of private operators. “Our daily earnings are shrinking, leaving drivers and conductors struggling to make ends meet,” said V Sekar, a conductor. He added that with the scheme being extended to long-distance govt buses, private services will suffer irreparable losses.Protesters further pointed out that the daily commission based on passenger numbers would be drastically reduced. They demanded that the govt either scrap the scheme or provide compensation to private bus staff similar to the subsidy offered to state-run transport corporations. Some urged that private bus employees be absorbed as govt staff to safeguard their livelihoods.Various transport union leaders warned that if the scheme was fully implemented, protests would intensify across Tamil Nadu. They added that their associations would soon convene a meeting to decide on the next course of action.
