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Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Three-day private bus strike from May 22 as talks between operators, Bengal govt inconclusive
Kolkata faces a potential transport crisis. Discussions between the West Bengal transport department and private bus operators reached a standstill. A three-day statewide bus strike is planned to start on May 22. The bus operators demand resolution of pending issues. These issues include extending the lifespan of older buses and addressing alleged police harassment. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Talks between the West Bengal transport department and a unified platform of five private bus operators ' associations failed to resolve the ongoing deadlock on Monday, with the latter firm on their three-day statewide strike of stage carriages starting May 22. The associations, which have come together under the banner Besarkari Jatri Paribahan Banchao Committee (Save Passenger Transport Committee), are demanding immediate resolution of long-pending grievances, including a two-year extension for buses older than 15 years and an end to alleged police harassment over traffic of five associations - Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, Bengal Bus Syndicate , West Bengal Bus-Mini Bus Owners Association, Minibus Operators Co-ordination Committee and Inter and Intra Region Bus Association - met senior transport officials and transport secretary Saumitra Mohan in series of meetings, but there was no immediate sign of a breakthrough, PN Bose, spokesperson of the Inter and Intra Region Bus Association, told said as a last-ditch effort in the interest of commuters, they will hold a meeting with Mohan on May 20, where the deputy commissioners of Kolkata Police across different divisions will be connected virtually."Let's hope against hope," he added.A senior transport official said, "We hope better sense will prevail. We are hopeful they will respond positively to tomorrow's discussion where both sides will discuss the issues," he added."Private bus operators are yet to recover from the losses incurred during Covid lockdown in 2020. The state government is yet to announce a viable financial package for the stage carriage sector, which is now struggling for survival. Still, we are struggling to keep our fleet running, but police excesses like slapping false traffic violation cases and imposing hefty fines are making our survival difficult, Bose added."We had also sent a letter to the Chief Minister's Office, but there has been no response," he around 2,500 private buses operate in Kolkata and surrounding areas, while around 27,000 buses ply across the state.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
5 private bus operators' organisations call 3-day strike across Bengal from May 22
Kolkata, A platform of five private bus operators' associations in West Bengal on Friday announced a three-day strike from May 22, demanding immediate resolution of long-pending issues, including a two-year extension for vehicles older than 15 years and an end to alleged police excesses over traffic violations. The five associations — Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, Bengal Bus Syndicate, West Bengal Bus-Mini Bus Owners Association, Minibus Operators Co-ordination Committee and Inter and Intra Region Bus Association — which have come together under a unified platform called Besarkari Jatri Paribahan Banchao Committee have urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to sit for talks with the bus operators by May 20. PN Bose, spokesperson of the Inter and Intra Region Bus Association, told PTI, "Private bus operators are yet to recover from the losses incurred during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. The state government has not announced a viable financial package for the stage carriage sector, which is now struggling for survival." In a letter to the Chief Minister's Office, the bus operators also requested DGP Rajiv Kumar be present at the proposed meeting to address concerns regarding alleged police excesses. "Despite repeated pleas to the transport department and Kolkata Police, our issues remain unaddressed. We have been incurring losses while continuing to operate, but the state remains unresponsive," said Tapan Bandyopadhyay, spokesperson of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates. "Every day, a bus has to pay fines ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 to traffic police under the pretext of traffic violations. Our repeated demands to reduce toll taxes at locations such as Vidyasagar Setu and Dankuni have gone unheard. The state has not fulfilled its responsibility to ensure that 15-year-old buses are granted a two-year window, considering the massive losses suffered during the Covid period. We are not asking for charity," Bandyopadhyay asserted. Bose added, "If the stalemate continues, we may escalate the protest beyond the May 22–25 strike." Currently, around 2,500 private buses operate in Kolkata and surrounding areas, while around 27,000 buses ply across the state.
