Bhubaneswar: Employees of Ama Bus services have staged a sit-in protest at the Bhagabanpur Depot in Patrapada, demanding immediate payment of their pending salaries and resolution of other long-pending issues.
According to reports, the agitation began early in the morning. Due to the protest, bus services have come to a complete standstill, with 117 buses across 45 routes from the Bhagabanpur Depot remaining off the roads since morning. This has caused significant inconvenience to daily commuters.
The protesting employees have raised four major demands. They are calling for timely disbursement of salaries, regular payment of EPF and ESI contributions, and a limit on duty assignments so that no employee is given more than 30 duties.
They have also strongly opposed the current penalty system, demanding that in FC or FNC cases, the fine imposed on employees should not exceed Rs 500. They have objected to the existing practice of recovering Rs 5,000 along with five days of duty suspension.
The employees have warned that they will continue the dharna until all their demands are fulfilled and the management provides a concrete resolution. The protest has severely affected commuters who depend on Ama Bus services in the capital.
