Private buses to resume services in Odisha from tomorrow

Commuters in Odisha can finally heave a sigh of relief as all private buses are set to hit the roads from tomorrow. The State Private Bus Owners’ Association announced this decision following a crucial meeting held in Puri on Friday.

Also Read: Will not disrupt vehicular movement, but continue strike: Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangh

Bus operations had been paralysed across Odisha due to ongoing agitation by the drivers’ association, leaving thousands stranded and affecting daily transport services. After detailed deliberations, the association decided to resume services, bringing an end to days of inconvenience, the bus owners’ association president Priyabrata Tripathy informed.

The State government will provide protection to private buses, the outfit secretary said in a press conference held after its key meeting.

“Keeping in mind the convenience of passengers, we decided to roll out the private buses from tomorrow,” the association secretary, Debendra Sahoo, said.

“The strike has already reached four days, starting from July 8 to July 11, and our staffers have become impatient. Hence, we want to run the buses. We will run the buses at any cost; otherwise, how will our families be managed?” Priyabrata Tripathy questioned.

Meanwhile, the Cuttack bus owners’ outfit has announced to run buses from tomorrow as well.

Speaking exclusively to OTV, Sambalpur drivers’ association president Jayanarayan Mahana said, “When the drivers are agitating on the roads, who else will drive the buses? Would the owners drive the vehicles?”

“The bus owners’ outfit should rather support us and convey this to the State government. Our discussion with the Government is already over, but we want a written confirmation in this regard. Otherwise, we don’t want to put the public into trouble,” Mahana added.