Thousands of passengers were stranded at bus terminals across the State with transport employees joining the nationwide strike on Thursday against the proposed Road Transport and Safety Bill, 2015.
Both private and government buses kept off the road during the day. Bus drivers, conductors and other employees of bus operators staged protest outside bus terminals. Most commuters had no prior information about the bandh.
Under scorching heat, they had no other option, but to wait for hours till evening for resumption of bus service. Things went from bad to worse as auto-rickshaw drivers joined the strike at many places in Bhubaneswar.
“I had no idea about the strike. When I reached Baramunda Bus Terminal at Bhubaneswar to catch a bus to Balasore in the morning, there was no movement of buses. I, along with my sister, will have to wait for resumption of services,” said Ranjan Swain, a student.
“The NDA government is pushing for a draconian law. If it becomes a law, the Centre would take away all powers of State with regard to enforcing transport laws,” said Janardhan Pati, president of All Odisha Road Transport Workers’ Association (AORTWA).
Mr. Pati said, “It is proposed to make matriculation as minimum qualification for drivers. If it is implemented, many people would lose their livelihood. These people will be stripped off driving license.”
“The Bill has proposed to impose exorbitant penalty of any violation. If the violation is committed three times, there is provision of cancellation of licence. These provisions are very harsh,” he said.
