Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Durga puja festival, private bus operators in 14 South and Western Odisha districts have called a 24-hour strike on Monday opposing plying of Tier-II buses under LAccMI scheme.
At least 24 private bus owners’ associations will strike in western and southern Odisha from 6 pm on October 7 to 6 pm on October 8.
“We don’t want to create problems for the commuters. However, for our livelihood, we have called a strike opposing the state government’s move to run LAccMI buses from block to district headquarters,” the private bus association members said.
Convenor of Western and Southern Odisha private bus owner’s Association Pravin Khamari said that although initially LAccMI buses were meant to run between Panchayt to blocks but in contrary the LAccMI buses are running connecting blocks to district head quarters that too in subsidised fare.
The private buses which are having valid route permits are facing acute financial loss and on the verge of collapse by such steps, he said.
Shri Khamari said the bandh declared for October 7 is a symbolic protest and if there will not be any positive action then the agitation will be intensified.
The 24 hour bus strike is apprehended to affect commuters in districts like Kalahandi, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Bolangir, Subarnapur, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Deogarh during busy puja time.
Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said the State Government is committed to provide affordable bus services to the people.
On the proposed strike of the bus operators, Minister said he has convened a meeting with the representatives of the bus associations on Monday morning to discuss their issues.