TV
A major transportation crisis unfolded at major bus terminals in Odisha on Thursday as hundreds of passengers were left stranded with no transport options, caught in the grip of an ongoing drivers’ strike that has paralysed public mobility across the state.
Visuals from the Cuttack Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Bus Terminal and the Baramunda Bus Stand in Bhubaneswar, scenes of exhaustion, confusion, and despair played out for the third day in a row.
The absence of private buses, which form the backbone of Odisha’s inter-district and long-distance transport, has left daily commuters, medical patients, elderly travellers, and office-goers in a state of helpless wait.
With only a handful of government-run services like the Ama Bus operating and autorickshaws overcharging or unavailable, many passengers were seen waiting for hours with no idea when or how they would reach their destinations.
At the Cuttack bus stand, families with children sat hopelessly on the terminal with luggage piled beside them. Some had travelled from hospitals, while others were trying to return to rural interiors after completing official or personal work in the city.
“I brought my father for treatment at SCB Hospital. Now we have no way to return to Angul. The buses have vanished. Auto drivers are asking for Rs 2,000 and we just can’t afford that,” said Ramesh Pradhan, who had been waiting with his family since morning.
"I came here for my child's surgery. There was no bus from the hospital, so we took an auto to the bus stand and now have no idea how to go back home as no buses are running," said a woman from Keonjhar.
In Bhubaneswar, office-goers expressed frustration as they were unable to reach their workplaces. “I work in a private firm and don’t get paid if I miss a day. This is the third day I couldn’t make it to work,” said Meena Behera, a commuter from Khordha, stuck at Baramunda since early morning.
Driver Agitation Behind the Paralysis
The transport breakdown stems from the ongoing strike called by the All Odisha Driver Mahasangha, now on its third day. The drivers have halted operations under their ‘steering wheel off’ protest, demanding better welfare, recognition, and working conditions.
Despite multiple rounds of talks with the state government, including meetings at the Transport Minister’s residence and Kharavela Bhavan, no resolution has been reached.
