The members also submitted a deputation to the department demanding extension of time for plying of 15-year-old vehicles.
Representation image [File Photo]
Amid the strings of political rallies and processions disrupting vehicular movement almost every other day, city commuters could face another round of travel harassment in the next few weeks. Five private and bus unions, operating over 5,000 vehicles in and around the city, have threatened to go on a three-day strike from 18 March if their demands are not answered by then.
Members of the Gana Paribahan Bachao Committee, which is a joint forum of five different private bus and minibus operators’ unions, have announced a 72-hour bus strike next month. The decision comes after the members belonging to the five unions, namely Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, Bengal Bus Syndicate, West Bengal Bus and Mini Bus Owners’ Association, Mini Bus Owners’ Co-ordination Committee and Inter Intra Region Bus Association gathered at the transport department office at R N Mukherjee Road.
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The members also submitted a deputation to the department demanding extension of time for plying of 15-year-old vehicles. According to the operators, they were unable to ply the vehicles for two years during the outbreak of Covid pandemic. “Even after the Covid getting over, the transport sector is getting crippled gradually due to hike in fuel prices and other expenses,” claimed general secretary of West Bengal Bus and Mini Bus Owners’ Association, Pradip Narayan Bose. “Despite the fact, the bus operators have been continuing to provide services for so long. If the buses are phased out in the present scenario, the transport sector in the city and districts would collapse,” added the vice-president of Bengal Bus Syndicate, Surajit Saha.
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The operators’ forum has also submitted a list of vehicles that are due for being phased out in the next few months. The union leaders are, therefore, demanding that the vehicles be allowed to ply for two more years and fitness certificates be given to those.
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