The ongoing strike by contractual Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers has entered its fourth day, causing difficulties for commuters across Delhi, particularly patients and their families who travel to the capital from neighbouring states for medical treatment.
The strike began on September 15, with contractual drivers demanding improvements in their pay and service conditions. Their demands include higher basic pay, dearness allowance, grade pay, medical facilities, insurance coverage, overtime payments and other employment benefits.
While the Delhi Metro remains an alternative for many commuters, several outstation visitors are finding it difficult to use the network because they are unfamiliar with the city's routes and stations. For those unable to use the Metro, auto-rickshaws and taxis have become costly alternatives.
Outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), several patients and attendants were seen waiting for buses. Many said they were reluctant to take cabs because of the high fares.
Maneka Devi, 42, who travelled to Delhi from Mahendragarh in Haryana, said she had been visiting AIIMS with her husband, who is undergoing treatment for throat cancer. She said that on September 6 she had waited for a bus for around an hour and found that a cab would cost around ₹2,000-2,500.
For her family, the expense was difficult to manage. She said they normally travel by DTC bus to Rewari and then take another state bus to reach home.
Another patient attendant, Ghanshyam, 62, travelled to Delhi from a village near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh on September 13. He said he had been waiting near AIIMS Gate No. 1 for nearly three hours but had not seen a bus arrive.
Ghanshyam said neither he nor his 20-year-old son, who requires medical treatment, had experience travelling by Metro. He added that an auto-rickshaw was asking around ₹400-450 to reach the Inter-State Bus Terminal, making the journey difficult for a daily-wage worker.
A similar situation was reported by 72-year-old Sheila Devi, who travelled from Bihar for medical treatment. She said she had undergone surgery on her right eye but later developed vision problems in the other eye, requiring regular hospital visits.
Devi said she was staying at a rest house in RK Puram at a cost of ₹600 per day because she had no home or close relatives in Delhi. She also said that an auto ride that normally cost around ₹100 was now costing about ₹180.
The disruption has therefore created additional financial and logistical pressure for patients who already face significant expenses related to medical treatment, accommodation and travel.
Delhi transport minister Pankaj Singh said discussions had been held with all stakeholders to address the issue. He said the protesting drivers were employed by a concessionaire rather than directly by DTC, and that the government had spoken with the concerned parties.
Singh said assurances had been given that the drivers' legitimate demands would be considered and resolved.
As the strike continues, commuters and outstation patients remain dependent on limited public transport options, while authorities work to resolve the dispute and restore normal bus services across the city.
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