Private Bus Owners Withdraw Strike In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In a major relief for the passengers, the All Odisha Private Bus Owners Association on Wednesday withdrew its indefinite strike after the state government agreed to fulfil its demands.

This was announced by Debasis Nayak, spokesperson of the Association after the general body meeting of the Association.

With the withdrawal of the strike, private bus services began after 5 PM across the state.

Nayak said while the state government had agreed to fulfil most of the demands of the Association in the first round meeting on Tuesday in the presence of Commerce and Transport minister Nrusingh Sahu, the main demand of the Association on determination and permission of routes for city buses could not be discussed due to absence of the Urban Development minister Niranjan Pujari.

In the second round meeting on Wednesday, it was decided that a high level committee would be formed in which the office-bearers of the All Odisha Private Bus Owners Association would be the members. The committee would submit its report within three months. On the basis of the report, the state government would take its decisions accordingly.

“Since it has been decided that the committee would submit its report within three months, the state government will not allow route permit to any city buses during the period, Nayak informed.

Soon after the meeting, the Association discussed the issue at its general body meeting where it decided to withdraw the strike.

The private bus owners had been demanding complete waiver of toll duty, clarity on route map of city buses and rollback of hike in motor vehicle tax among others.