Buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles kept off the roads across the State in view of a nationwide strike called by the All India Transport Federation on Tuesday.
Parents and students in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack had a harrowing experience as school bus services were discontinued for the day. All of a sudden, the parents were asked by the school authorities to make their own arrangements to drop their wards in the schools.
“We received a text message from the school saying that the buses won’t ply due to the strike and that we should be making our own arrangements. It is difficult for working parents like me and the intermittent rains added to the woes,” said a parent, JN Acharya.
Office-goers and students of various other higher educational institutions dependant on public transport too had a tough time in reaching their destinations as private buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis remained off the roads.
“I got an auto-rickshaw after almost 30 minutes; and the one I got charged me double the usual fare. But I had no option,” said a corporate executive. The transportation of goods and other essential commodities was also disrupted due to the strike.
Notably, the All Odisha Transport Federation had extended its support to the 24-hour nationwide transport strike protesting against the “draconian” amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act. Several other trade unions also supported the stir.