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Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
No change in plan, private bus operators to go on strike from tomorrow
COMMUTERS IN Kolkata are bracing for a trying time from Thursday as private bus operators across West Bengal have called for a three-day statewide strike. On Tuesday, Transport Department Secretary Soumitra Mohan convened a meeting to discuss the looming strike, appealing to bus and minibus owners to reconsider their decision to avoid inconveniencing the public. The strike, stemming from 'unresolved grievances' with the government, is expected to significantly disrupt daily commutes, leaving a large number of people scrambling for alternative transportation in the city. According to the bus operatiors, the strike is aimed at protesting against alleged 'targeted levying' of fines by traffic police and civic volunteers and the state government's 'inaction' regarding the replacement of 15-year-old buses. However, representatives from the private bus organisations remained defiant, pointing out their intention to proceed with the strike. and road meeting followed an earlier, unsuccessful attempt at resolution. The police also held a separate video conference today, inviting representatives of the private bus organisations to attend. A key grievance of the bus owners is the 'frequency and severity' of fines. Surojit Saha, vice president of the Bengal Bus Syndicate, highlighted the issue claiming, 'They're issuing at least 3-4 cases a day and imposing heavy fines. Imagine, a Rs 10,000 fine for driver's negligence and 4,000 rupees for a speeding ticket.' He further claimed that despite repeated meetings, the administration has failed to take any concrete action. Saha also spoke about the financial strain on bus owners, noting that their average daily earnings are around Rs 1800, excluding maintenance and fines.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
5 private bus operators' organisations call 3-day strike across Bengal from May 22
Kolkata, A platform of five private bus operators' associations in West Bengal on Friday announced a three-day strike from May 22, demanding immediate resolution of long-pending issues, including a two-year extension for vehicles older than 15 years and an end to alleged police excesses over traffic violations. The five associations — Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, Bengal Bus Syndicate, West Bengal Bus-Mini Bus Owners Association, Minibus Operators Co-ordination Committee and Inter and Intra Region Bus Association — which have come together under a unified platform called Besarkari Jatri Paribahan Banchao Committee have urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to sit for talks with the bus operators by May 20. PN Bose, spokesperson of the Inter and Intra Region Bus Association, told PTI, "Private bus operators are yet to recover from the losses incurred during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. The state government has not announced a viable financial package for the stage carriage sector, which is now struggling for survival." In a letter to the Chief Minister's Office, the bus operators also requested DGP Rajiv Kumar be present at the proposed meeting to address concerns regarding alleged police excesses. "Despite repeated pleas to the transport department and Kolkata Police, our issues remain unaddressed. We have been incurring losses while continuing to operate, but the state remains unresponsive," said Tapan Bandyopadhyay, spokesperson of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates. "Every day, a bus has to pay fines ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 to traffic police under the pretext of traffic violations. Our repeated demands to reduce toll taxes at locations such as Vidyasagar Setu and Dankuni have gone unheard. The state has not fulfilled its responsibility to ensure that 15-year-old buses are granted a two-year window, considering the massive losses suffered during the Covid period. We are not asking for charity," Bandyopadhyay asserted. Bose added, "If the stalemate continues, we may escalate the protest beyond the May 22–25 strike." Currently, around 2,500 private buses operate in Kolkata and surrounding areas, while around 27,000 buses ply across the state.
