Bhubaneswar, Mar 15 (PTI) Public transportation across Odisha was hit as an association of drivers launched an indefinite strike from Wednesday demanding social security.
A large number of drivers were seen sitting on national highways and state expressways and preventing the movement of private buses.
Nearly 2 lakh drivers under the banner of the Odisha Drivers’ Association were on strike rendering thousands of people stranded in major cities and towns like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Sambalpur, Berhampur, Balasore, and Bolangir.
Though Private Bus Owners Association and several other bodies did not support the strike, no private bus was visible on the roads.
The protestors were also seen stopping commercial vehicles on National Highway at Tamando, near here.
The drivers are demanding fulfillment of their 10-point charter of demands like pension, insurance, and death benefits.
“We appeal to the drivers to call off the strike and cooperate with the government in resolving their issues,” Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu said on Wednesday.
A meeting between the minister and the drivers had remained inconclusive on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the state government has directed all collectors and SPs to have a contingency plan ready to avoid any inconvenience to people during the strike.
City Police Commissioner Soumendra Priyadarshi said action will be taken against those trying to affect vehicular movement. He advised people to call the 112 helpline in case of any untoward incident.
“I had no idea about the strike. I came from West Bengal and want to go to Nayagarh. But I am helpless now,” said a passenger at the Barmunda Bus Terminal.
The association has excluded ambulance services and vehicles carrying essential goods from the purview of the strike.
Meanwhile, the drivers’ strike was raised in the Assembly with the BJP and Congress MLAs expressing concern over the disruption of road transport services across the state. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narssingha Mishra and Opposition (BJP) chief whip Mohan Maji urged the state government to resolve the matter and ensure the commencement of public transport at the earliest. PTI AAM MM MM
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