Rajasthan Bus Strike Enters Second Day; 25 Lakh Passengers Stranded, Khatu Shyam Devotees Worst Hit

Jaipur: Rajasthan continues to reel under severe transport disruption as the indefinite strike by private bus operators entered its second day on Tuesday, leaving nearly 2.5 million passengers stranded across the state. A second round of talks between the operators and the Transport Commissioner ended without resolution, further deepening the crisis.

With nearly 30,000 private buses off the roads, the state’s transport system has nearly collapsed. Only about 3,300 Rajasthan Roadways buses are operating, struggling to handle the overwhelming rush of passengers who previously relied on nearly 35,000 daily bus services.

Deadlock Intensifies Over New Demand

The dispute has now escalated beyond policy issues into a confrontation over officials. Bus operators have placed a new condition before the government, stating that no third round of talks will be held unless RTO-II Dharmendra Choudhary and Inspector Rajesh Choudhary are sent on APO (Awaiting Posting Orders).

Earlier, operators had demanded that buses should not be seized mid-route after passengers are deboarded, tax slabs be reduced in line with neighboring states, and heavy penalties be withdrawn. However, the issue has now reportedly turned into a matter of “credibility and respect” between the department and operators.

Chaotic Scenes at Bus Stands

The worst scenes have been reported at major bus terminals including Sindhi Camp, Heerapura, Chomu Circle, and Transport Nagar in Jaipur. With approximately 15,000 sleeper buses and 20,000 local transport buses off the roads, nearly 1.8 million daily commuters are scrambling for limited Roadways services.

Passengers have been forced to travel on bus rooftops due to overcrowding. Many travelers who left their homes early in the morning were unable to secure transport even by late afternoon. The shortage of buses has led to the cancellation of hundreds of social and family events across the state as guests remain unable to travel.

Khatu Shyam and Shekhawati Routes Severely Affected

The strike has particularly impacted devotees traveling to Khatu Shyam Ji. Pilgrims arriving from other states are reportedly stranded in Jaipur. Roadways buses operating via Heerapura have been suspended, forcing passengers to travel an additional 10–15 kilometers to reach Sindhi Camp.

Key routes including Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, and Sri Ganganagar are witnessing waiting times of up to three hours or more.

Tensions Flare at Sindhi Camp

Tensions escalated Tuesday afternoon outside Sindhi Camp when attempts were allegedly made to operate certain local transport buses. A heated argument broke out between RTO officials and bus operators, lasting nearly an hour. Association President Rajendra Sharma and General Secretary Praveen Agrawal reached the spot and reportedly asked passengers to deboard the buses amid slogan-shouting. Police later intervened to bring the situation under control.

What Next?

With both sides refusing to budge, uncertainty looms over when normal bus services will resume. Commuters, pilgrims, and daily wage earners remain the worst affected as negotiations appear to have hit a political and administrative roadblock.

Unless a breakthrough is achieved soon, Rajasthan’s transport paralysis could continue, further intensifying public hardship.