TV
Transport services across Odisha remained in disarray for the fourth consecutive day as the ‘Quit Steering Wheel’ protest launched by the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha entered its fourth day on Friday, showing no signs of ending.
With thousands of drivers abandoning their vehicles in protest, the state’s transport lifeline—from passenger buses to fuel tankers has come to a grinding halt, leaving commuters stranded and raising concerns of an emerging fuel crisis.
Commuters, Passengers Suffer
Heart-wrenching scenes are unfolding at bus stations, where passengers with children and luggage are seen waiting endlessly, some even resorting to walking long distances to return home. Medical patients discharged from hospitals are reportedly trekking miles in the absence of vehicles.
The drivers' union, which has put forth a six-point charter of demands, has refused to relent without written assurance from the Odisha government. Although officials have indicated that the state government is considering the demands, the absence of a formal commitment has led to a deadlock.
The impact is already visible on the state’s fuel logistics. Odisha requires around 36 lakh litres of petrol and 85 lakh litres of diesel daily. Normally, 600 tankers operate daily to supply fuel across the state. However, with the strike in effect, only around 400 tankers are reportedly operational. Petrol pumps, which typically maintain a four-day stock, may face acute shortages if the protest continues.
Even as the Food and Supplies Minister reassured the public of sufficient reserves and urged people not to panic, uncertainty looms. The longer the strike continues, the greater the risk of disruption to fuel availability and the movement of essential goods across the state.
Also Read | Centre set to approve 110-lm-long Bhubaneswar bypass project worth Rs 8,300 crore
The Odisha government now finds itself under increasing pressure to engage meaningfully with the drivers’ union before the situation escalates into a full-blown public crisis.
