Orissa clamps ESMA on agitating private bus operators

Unfazed by the decision of the private bus operators across the state to continue their indefinite strike, the Orissa government announced that the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) would be clamped from today to rein in the adamant stance of the bus owners.

The state government would invoke ESMA on the private bus services from today, said state chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

PK Jena, the state transport and energy secretary said that the state government will not bow to any of the demands of the private bus operators.

The toll collection at the National Highway (NH) toll gates is the responsibility of the Centre and it is not appropriate for the state government to interfere in this matter, he added.

However, the private bus operators under the banner of the All Orissa Private Bus Owners' Association (AOPBOA) are steadfast in their approach to continue the strike.

“Our agitation will continue even if the state government clamps ESMA and we expect the support of all the members of the association. The private bus operators cannot afford to run their buses on losses by paying high toll taxes”, said Prakash Mishra, president, AOPBOA.

The five-day strike by the private bus operators had badly hit the bus services in the state, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

It may be noted that the AOPBOA had decided to continue its indefinite stir at its meeting held on Sunday. Their stir was against what they termed as exorbitant toll fee collected at the NH toll gates.

Earlier, the talks held between AOPBOA and the state government on Saturday fell through as a result of which the private bus operators decided to go ahead with their strike.

The private bus operators had started the agitation to protest the collection of toll by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on the National Highway (NH)-5 and NH-5A. More than 6,500 private buses went off the roads on all routes in the state.

The association said that the private bus operators were against passing the burden on the passengers through an increase in fares. They have given a three-point recommendation to the government to offset the cost escalation.The association has called for a toll collection of Rs 30 per bus or waiver of value added tax on diesel for those vehicles that move through the toll gates.

NHAI is collecting toll at the rate of Rs 40 (one-way) and Rs 60 (two-way) for cars. For light commercial vehicles, the authority collected a toll of Rs 70 (one-way) and Rs 110 (two-ways).

Similarly, the toll charges for trucks are Rs 145 (one-way) and Rs Rs 215 (two-way) while for heavier vehicles, the toll stood at Rs 310 and Rs 465 fro ne-way and two-way passages respectively.