Normal life was affected across the State as nearly 18,000 private buses stayed off roads due to a 24-hour strike by the All Odisha Private Bus Owners' Association (AOPBOA) protesting the arrest of a bus owner.
The owners have been protesting the arrest of Rusav Kumar Tripathy owner of the ill-fated bus 'Maharaja' which skidded off a bridge at Puruna Manitri near Athmallik on September 19 killing 19 passengers and leaving over 50 others injured. The private bus operators' body has also threatened to go on an indefinite bus strike beginning from October 7 if the Government fails to withdraw the case against Tripathy.
On Thursday again, a delegation of the association met Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi and others demanding the immediate release of Tripathy and withdrawal of case registered against him.
However, the Minister asked the owners not to go for strike from October 7 and assured them of measures on their demands.
“Firstly, they should not go for strike for the sake of commuters. We will do whatever possible within the legal parameter,” said Majahi.
Following the meeting, bus association general secretary Debendra Sahu said decision on future course of action would be taken on October 5 at the association's general body meeting.
