Featured

‘Quit Steering’ Protest: Drivers Resort To Picketing Across Odisha

By
OB Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Bus services were affected at Cuttack’s Badambadi bus stand and commuters were seen stranded as over 4 lakh drivers joined the day-long “quit steering” protest on Wednesday to press for 10-point charter of demands.

The agitators were also seen stopping commercial vehicles on National Highway at Tamando, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. Similar scenes were witnessed in Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, Deogarh, Kendrapada, Khurda, Puri and several other districts of the state.

Badambadi bus stand

Emergency vehicles and those, carrying students or examinations, have been exempted from the strike.

The agitators alleged that Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu gave them false assurance as a meeting between them remained inconclusive the previous day. While urging the drivers not to hold the protest and cause inconvenience to the public, the minister had also assured them that a committee will be constituted to look into their demands, which includes pension after 60 years of age, death benefits, insurance, security, parking and toilet facility.

“Our demands are genuine and we will stage peaceful protests for our rights. We will ensure that no examinee or patient faces any difficulty due to our strike and vehicles carrying students, ambulances, police and fire vehicles will be allowed to ply,” president of Driver Ekata Mahamancha Prasant Menduli had said.

Meanwhile, the state government has directed all collectors and SPs to have a contingency plan to avoid any inconvenience to the public during the strike. Twin City Commissioner of Police Soumendra Priyadarshi also warned of strict action if any untoward incident takes place due to the drivers’ protest.

Private bus owners, truck owners and auto-rickshaw drivers, however, refused to extend support to the protest and announced to continue passenger services.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Waqf Bill, 14 Others Listed For Winter Session Of Parliament

New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA government will introduce 15 bills, including one to amend the…

November 21, 2024

Newborn Sold In Odisha’s Balangir Traced To Raipur Hospital In Chhattisgarh

Bhubaneswar: A newborn baby, who was allegedly sold by her parents in Odisha's Balangir district,…

November 21, 2024

Two More Exit Polls Predict A Mahayuti Win In Maharashtra Elections; Check Here

Mumbai: Exit polls have given Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti alliance an edge in the neck-to-neck…

November 21, 2024

Orissa HC Issues Interim Stay On Demolition Of Baikuntha Dham Ashram In Bhubaneswar

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court has put the BDA's order for demolition of controversial Shree…

November 21, 2024

Sunita Williams Feasts On Pizza, Roast Chicken & Shrimp Cocktails But Little Fresh Food Left

New York: Amid reports of deteriorating health of astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, it…

November 21, 2024

This Actor Surpasses Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan To Become Most Popular Male Film Star

Mumbai: South superstar Prabhas has surpassed Bollywood King Khan Shah Rukh and ‘Dabangg’ Salman Khan…

November 21, 2024

10 Arrested For Attack On BJP MLA Himanshu Sahoo In Odisha’s Jajpur

Jajpur: Police on Thursday arrested 10 persons in connection with the alleged attack on MLA…

November 21, 2024

6 Get Life Term For Raping Woman In Odisha 5 Years Ago

Bhawanipatna: Five year after the rape of a woman, Dharamgarh Additional District and Session court…

November 21, 2024