Bus strike: OSRTC buses stay off roads from today

Bhubaneswar: Extending support to the bandh called by All Odisha State Road Transport Staff Association (AOSRTSA), government buses across Odisha will stay off roads from today till February 28.

The AOSRTSA has called for the bandh demanding fulfillment of their 5-point charter of demands that includes regularisation jobs of contractual employees, equal pay for equal work, dearness allowance at par with government employees and promotion.

The AOSRTSA took the decision after a meeting with Commerce and Transport Minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu ended inconclusively on Saturday.

“We are observing the bandh at 24 of our branches over 5-point charter of demands. We will observe the strike for three days and will continue it by giving a notice if the demands are not met,” said an agitating employee of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC).

“The passengers will certainly face problem due to the bandh. We were forced to launch the agitation as no action was taken on our demands despite bringing it to the notice of Odisha government and discussing with Commerce and Transport Minister,” said another employee.