Bhubaneswar- After four days of disrupted public transport across the state, the All Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association has announced that it will no longer support the ongoing drivers’ cease-work protest and will resume bus operations from July 12.
Speaking to the media, association secretary Debendra Sahu said that the indefinite agitation has caused severe inconvenience to thousands of daily passengers. “Given the hardships faced by the public, we have decided to restart private bus services across Odisha starting tomorrow,” he stated.
However, the association expressed concern over road blockades and incidents of vandalism reported during the protest. It has appealed to the state government to ensure safety and security for bus staff and vehicles as services resume.
“We request the state administration to deploy adequate police support to safeguard our drivers and conductors. Miscreants have damaged some buses, and such actions must be prevented to maintain law and order,” Sahu added.
The ongoing protest, initiated by the Odisha Drivers’ Association on July 8, is based on a six-point list of demands, including pension benefits after the age of 60 and improved working conditions for commercial drivers.
Drivers of trucks, buses, and other transport vehicles have joined the agitation, leading to widespread disruption in transportation across the state. Despite the continued strike by the drivers’ association, private bus owners have now chosen to break away from the movement in order to restore essential transport services.
