Private Bus Owners threatens to go on Strike from June 5

Bhubaneswar, May 16: The All Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association threatened to go on an indefinite strike from June 5 following the steep hike in price of petrol and diesel. The transport body demanded an automatic fare adjustment mechanism in the state. For the second time in this month fuel prices were increased.

Transport fuel prices were hiked effective Friday midnight by Rs.3.13 per litre for petrol and by Rs.2.71 a litre for diesel, including state levies, state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) said on Friday. The rates were last increased on May 1 by Rs.3.96 per litre for petrol and by Rs.2.37 a litre for diesel.

The transport boy has been demanding for automatic fare adjustment mechanism so that they could adjust the fares according to price of fuel. Including this, the transport body has 15-point charter of demands, which they would urge the state government to consider.

The state government in October 2014 said that the report of technical committee was awaited to take decision on bus fares adjustments. Everyday around 13,000 privates buses ply on roads in the state and strike would affect the normal life.