Transport services crippled in most parts of Himachal Pradesh as 3,000 odd private buses remained off road in response to the one-day strike called by private bus operators' union, demanding 40 per cent hike in bus fares.
What added to the problems of commuters was the inadequate number of state road transport buses to cope with the situation, leaving them waiting for hours at the stands.
The private bus operators union had served a notice for the strike on August 26 to press the demand for 40 per cent hike fares, keeping in view the steep hike in prices of diesel and spare parts.
Transport Minister G S Bali had urged the union to defer the strike.
"The state cannot have two set of bus fares for private bus operators and state run transport services," Bali had told the private transporters and asked them to resolve the issue through talks.
Meanwhile, the BJP has blamed the government for inconvenience faced by the commuters and said that in spite of ultimatum by the private bus operators, the HRTC did not make alternate arrangements.
