Final call on Odisha private bus strike against Mukhyamantri Bus Seva on Saturday

The State Private Bus Owners’ Association will take a final decision on Saturday on whether to go ahead with the proposed strike against the Mukhyamantri Bus Seva (MBS) to district headquarters, association leaders said on Friday.

State Private Bus Owners’ Association general secretary Debendra Kumar Sahu said the decision on calling off or continuing the strike will be taken after the association’s next meeting. He informed that discussions with the government during the previous meeting were largely successful.

Despite the talks, the association said its call for a statewide private bus strike from January 24 remains in force for the time being. Most office-bearers of the State Private Bus Owners’ Association attended the meeting held on Thursday.

Sahu said that disputes related to the issue have been resolved in most districts across the state. However, the matter remains unresolved in Jagatsinghpur district. The association said the continuing dispute in Jagatsinghpur is the key reason why the strike call has not yet been withdrawn.

The proposed strike is being planned in protest against the operation of the MBS to district headquarters, which private bus operators allege has adversely affected their operations. Further clarity is expected after the association’s next round of deliberations.

“The MBS route clashes with ours, which we are opposing. We have written to the government in this regard, and the district collectors have been given the power to give a permit. We are suffering loss. A committee comprising the district collector, DTM, RTO, and local association member was formed, and they will decide the routes,” Sahu said.

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“Several district collectors were cooperating except Jagatsinghpur. If Jagatsinghpur collector does not modify the route, then our protest will continue, and no vehicle will ply from Sunday morning,” he added.