Odisha bus association calls off strike

The All Odisha Bus Owners' Association (AOBOA) on Monday called off its proposed state-wide strike after a "fruitful" meeting with the state government.

The proposed strike was scheduled to begin on December 1.

An inter-ministerial committee headed by state Finance Minister Pradip Amat discussed with the representatives of the association their various demands.

Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Das Burma participated in the meeting.

"The meeting discussed all the demands of the association in detail. I have requested them to call off their proposed strike as their demands are under active consideration of the government," Transport Minister Majhi told reporters after the meeting.

AOBOA secretary Debendra Sahu said the meeting was fruitful as the government assured them that their demands were under its active consideration.

The government has assured it would reconsider its decision to hike motor vehicle tax in the winter session of the state assembly.

Besides, the government will take a decision on the modality regarding jurisdiction of city buses within three months, said Sahu. He also said that if the government does not fulfill their demands within the prescribed time, they would take future course of action accordingly.

The state government had proposed to bring an amendment for hiking motor vehicles tax in the winter session of the assembly beginning on Tuesday.