Bhubaneswar: Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena has once again appealed to striking drivers to call off their agitation and resume duty.
The government has assured that all drivers’ demands will be resolved, but the strike continues due to alleged interference from vested interest groups.
“I once again appeal to the drivers to withdraw their strike. The government is well aware of their demands and I assure that all the demands will be resolved. They should refrain from being misled by others,” Jena said.
The strike has severely affected the transportation of essential goods, including oils, edible oil, fuels, food, and vegetables. However, the government has managed to normalise transportation with the help of other drivers’ associations.
Minister Jena stated that the drivers are being misled by vested interest groups and urged them to refrain from such activities. He assured that the government is aware of their demands and is committed to resolving them. Jena appealed to the drivers to withdraw their strike and resume duty, emphasising that the government is willing to work with them to address their concerns.
“The drivers were being misled by a vested interest group and continued their strike. Due to their strike, the transportation of oils, edible oil, fuels, and food and vegetable items was hampered,” the minister added.
The members of the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha continue their indefinite strike in support of a seven-point charter of demands.
Their key demands include, implementation of a driver welfare scheme, withdrawal of frequent police vehicle checks, pension for drivers above 60 years of age, insurance and accident compensation, construction of restrooms and parking facilities and provision of rest sheds every 100 km along state highways.
The strike has severely impacted public transportation, with private buses staying off the roads. Commuters across the state faced hardship, as only a limited number of government buses operated by OSRTC and the Ama Bus service remained in service.
