Despite Drivers’ Strike Private Bus Owners will Ply Buses in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Despite the indefinite strike call by an association of drivers named Driver Ekata Manch from Wednesday, private bus owners in Odisha have decided to ply their buses on all routes in the state. The All Odisha Bus Owners’ Association (AOBOA) stated this on Tuesday.

A team of representatives of the AOBOA met with the Odisha DGP to inform him about their decision. The private bus owners requested the state police chief to ensure security for the plying of passenger buses across the state during the agitation by the drivers.

The AOBOA has already declared that it is not going to support the strike call given by the drivers as it would affect lakhs of people. In a statement, the association said the common people will bear the brunt of this agitation. It is claimed that the Bharat Driver Mahasangha has opposed this unlawful strike.

But the Driver Ekata Manch claims that around 5 lakh drivers across Odisha will participate in the agitation to press for their 10-point charter of demands. No vehicle except those engaged in emergency services will be allowed to ply on the roads during the strike, threatened the Driver Ekata Manch.

So, on Wednesday, there may be a confrontation between the agitating drivers and private bus operators.