As DTC drivers’ strike leaves commuters stranded, some scramble to find alternatives, others pay more

Five decades ago, Fareeda Jalal sat at a bus stop outside Lok Nayak Hospital in Central Delhi, her third day stranded by the ongoing Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers’ strike. The 55-year-old cancer patient contemplated her options: a shared tempo for Rs 350 or the Metro, which would require her to navigate stairs and walk. Jalal, a resident of Dwarka, typically took the bus to and from the hospital but found herself stranded, joining the ranks of commuters seeking alternative transportation.

The strike has left more than 80% of DTC's 6,840 buses off the roads, as reported by unions. Commuters scramble for alternatives, with some paying more for rides. Meanwhile, at Shadipur Depot in West Delhi, Radha, 40, struggled to reach her workplace after two buses failed to reach their respective stops. Like Jalal, Radha must report to her job, prompting her to pay for an autorickshaw ride.

In Central Delhi's ITO, 45-year-old domestic worker Sheetal faced difficulty securing an affordable autorickshaw. Drivers demanded at least Rs 80 for a shared ride, a significant increase from the usual Rs 20-30. Sheetal, who works in Laxmi Nagar, attempted to bargain with drivers but was unsuccessful in securing a fair price. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation responded to the strike by deploying eight additional trains, running 20 more trips to aid commuters.

The Metro saw a surge in ridership, with 76.86 lakh passengers on Tuesday and 80.71 lakh on Wednesday.