Bus strike: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Oct 5: The Private Bus Owners Association in western and southern Odisha has announced a 24-hour strike starting from 6 PM on October 7, in protest against the launch of Tier-II buses under the Location Accessible Multimodal Initiative (LAccMI) scheme. The strike will last until 6 PM on October 8, impacting bus services across the region during this critical period.
The association has urged the government to reconsider its decision by the strike deadline, emphasizing that the protests are strategically timed to coincide with the Durga Puja festivities, a time when many people rely on public transportation for travel.
Bus operators expressed their discontent, stating, “We agreed to Tier-1 LAccMI buses, and the previous government had unofficially promised to halt Tier-2 services. However, nothing has been done on the ground to address our concerns.” The LAccMI buses, initiated by the previous BJD government, were intended to enhance connectivity in remote areas, a commitment that the current government seeks to uphold.