Bhubaneswar – Public transport services across Odisha have been thrown into chaos as the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha began an indefinite “steering down” strike from today, urging the government to take swift action on their longstanding six-point demand. The protest has garnered participation from over five lakh drivers, including those operating buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles, though ambulances and school buses have been kept out of the strike for now.
The drivers are pressing for a range of basic facilities and recognition of their rights. Their key demands include monthly pensions for drivers above 60 years of age, inclusion of auto-rickshaw drivers in the Drivers’ Welfare Board, the setting up of parking zones every 100 kilometers, laws ensuring protection for drivers from public threats, proper restrooms and toilet facilities across highways, and a reservation of at least 70 percent of transport-related jobs in mining and industrial hubs for drivers from Odisha. They also called on the government to officially declare September 1 as National Drivers’ Day to recognize their service to the nation’s economy.
As transport services grind to a halt, thousands of passengers have been left stranded, with many having to scramble for alternatives at the last minute. One passenger who had traveled from Balangir to attend the Pallishree Mela in Puri said, “We were not informed about the strike in advance. We had to arrange a private vehicle in a rush and made it to Bhubaneswar with great difficulty. Now, we are stuck again, and our plans are uncertain. This disruption is painful, but the drivers’ demands are genuine. They deserve better.”
However, not everyone in the driver community supports the protest. The Transport Workers’ Union distanced itself from the strike, accusing the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha of staging the protest with personal and political motives. This has led to a divide within the transport workforce itself.
As the state watches closely, the outcome of this standoff could shape the future of public transport policy and workers’ rights in Odisha.
