The ongoing protest by Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) contractual bus drivers and conductors continues to disrupt public transportation amid worsening air quality in Delhi on Tuesday. A major inconvenience for public bus commuters was aggravated on Tuesday, forcing them to take cabs and bike taxis, as a strike by the DTC contractual bus drivers and conductors demanding equal pay and better working conditions led to a disruption in public transportation. Some commuters left clueless as they do not have idea about the strike. Meanwhile, several social media users expressed anger towards the disruption in the public transport system in the national capital. A few netizens slammed  the Delhi government to intervene in the matter and rise above politics while some seeking action against the protesting bus conductors and drivers. Responding to the development, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai requested the DTC employees to work together, citing a medical emergency due to pollution. "I am in touch with those people (DTC employees), and I want to request that they know that this is a medical emergency and we all need to work together," Rai said. Taking cognisance of the protesting workers, the Delhi Transport Corporation formed a committee of officers to consider the demands and grievances of the contractual employees. The DTC also requested the DTC Karmachari Ekta Union to provide a letter related to the demands or grievances of the contractual employees at the earliest for presenting it before the committee. The strike came as a response to growing dissatisfaction among DTCs contractual employees. The situation escalated over the weekend when female employees at the newly inaugurated all-women Sakhi Bus Depot in Sarojini Nagar initiated a protest, demanding equal pay and job security. Their grievances highlighted the stark wage disparities between permanent and contractual staff. The protest gained momentum as male employees joined in, amplifying the call for better working conditions and fair treatment. Protesters are demanding that the government address their key issues, including regularisation of their jobs, implementation of equal pay for equal work, and basic salary plus dearness allowance (DA) adjustments. Additionally, they are asking for job security measures to prevent arbitrary transfers to distant locations, which place an extra burden on contractual employees. A few commuters expressed their anger over the Delhi bus strike on X and urged the Delhi government to take immediate action in the matter. How comuters r forced to strand in midroads by some contractual workers of DTC is a little glance of picture . On part of admn. nobody is bothered abt the harassment of public transport users [sic] read another post on X.

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