Buses threaten 3-day strike after talks with state fail
1
2
Kolkata: The meeting between the
Bengal transport department
and five major
private bus operators
' associations failed to resolve an ongoing stand-off on Monday, as the associations confirmed they would proceed with a three-day statewide strike of stage carriage buses starting May 22.
Despite several meetings with senior transport officials, including transport secretary Saumitra Mohan, the associations, united under the banner
Besarkari Jatri Paribahan Banchao Committee
, remained firm on their decision to protest. Their demands include a two-year extension for buses over 15 years old and an end to what they allege is persistent police harassment over traffic violations, and fare revision.
"It is unfortunate that the bus operators decided to continue with the strike.
Our govt is sympathetic to their demands, and many issues are under review. A strike is not a solution — it only causes immense inconvenience to the public," said state transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty.
If the strike happens, over 2,000 buses will go off the roads. Chakraborty said the govt will deploy its full fleet of public transport and ensure that buses not participating in the strike are not forcibly stopped.
"We will take legal action against any coercive tactic. We hope the associations will reconsider and call off the strike."
However, association leaders indicated no breakthrough was in sight.
P N Bose, spokesperson for the Inter and Intra Region Bus Association, expressed cautious optimism, saying, "Let's hope against hope."
Tapan Banerjee
, secretary of Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, cited severe financial distress in the sector.
"Private bus operators are yet to recover from Covid-era losses. The govt hasn't offered a viable financial package. On top of that, false traffic violations and heavy fines are hurting us." He also noted that a letter was sent to the Chief Minister's Office seeking inter-vention but has received no response yet.
Currently, approximately 3,500 private buses operate in Kolkata and surrounding areas, while 27,000 ply statewide.
The transport community remains divided on the strike. Titu Saha, secretary of City Suburban Bus Service, said, "We neither support nor oppose the strike. Our buses will run. We don't want commuters to suffer. While many demands are valid, cutting off dialogue through a strike is counterproductive."
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