From rxpgnews.com
Delhi government moves court to free buses
By Indo Asian News Service,
Nov 23, 2006 - 11:14:47 PM
New Delhi, Nov 23 - With talks between the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments failing to resolve a standoff over running of buses in each other's territory, the Delhi government Thursday moved court to secure the release of its buses seized by the neighbouring state.
'They cannot seize our vehicles like this. The 122 Delhi Transport Corporation - buses are the property of the government. We have gone to the court to get our vehicles released,' said R.K. Kasana, deputy chief general manager - said Thursday.
'After our discussions with the Uttar Pradesh authorities failed to yield a concrete result, we were forced to take this step,' he said.
A team of officials of the Delhi transport ministry and the DTC held talks with the Uttar Pradesh government Tuesday but the talks remained inconclusive.
'We could not achieve the desired results in our talks,' Kasana said, refusing to divulge details.
The present standoff started Nov 16 when the Delhi government barred buses of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation - from entering Delhi in pursuance of an apex court order not to allow non-CNG vehicles in the capital.
The Uttar Pradesh government in retaliation barred DTC buses from entering the state and seized 122 buses.
'We only followed the court's orders. We were directed not to allow any non-CNG buses to enter Delhi. The Uttar Pradesh government should not have seized our buses in retaliation,' said Swatantra Dua, secretary, DTC Board.
Over 60,000 daily commuters have been hit by the standoff between the two governments.
'Our buses have been in their custody since Nov 17,' said Dua.
The commuters coming to Delhi from Meerut, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Aligarh were the worst hit, she said. The two states have been plying buses in each other's territory for the past 15 years. Around 129 DTC buses were in use.
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