Commuters in Odisha's Berhampur had a harrowing time on Monday as private buses did not ply for the second consecutive day.
The Ganjam District Private Bus Operators’ Association has decided to extend its strike indefinitely after its talks with the district administration on Sunday remained inconclusive. The private bus operators are protesting against the shifting of the bus stand from the heart of the city to Haladiapadar on the outskirts. Around 628 private passenger buses registered with the Ganjam District Private Bus Operators’ Association have remained off the roads since Sunday. This has affected passenger transportation from and to Berhampur from different parts of the State and adjoining Andhra Pradesh.
Limited State buses
Limited number of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation buses continue to play from Berhampur. Transportation to areas near Berhampur like Hinjli, Gopalpur and Chatrapur was not affected that badly because 28 city buses which ply to the areas continued their operations. But passengers wishing to travel to interior pockets of the district and other districts that do not have train communication were stranded at Berhampur bus stand.
The district administration decided to shift the passenger bus terminus of Berhampur to a recently constructed bus stand at Haladiapadar on the city's outskirts from July 1.
According to the decision, buses coming to Berhampur from other districts of the State and from outside Odisha were to go straight to the Haladiapadar terminus. Only buses plying within the district were to ply from the bus stand within the city. This decision was not acceptable to the private bus operators who resorted to strike, demanding a withdrawal of the order.