Bus, minibus operators in Kolkata defer strike by two weeks

Bus and minibus operators today deferred a 48-hour strike call from August 19 by two weeks after assurance from the West Bengal government to look into the matter of a fare hike, bus operators said.
"We have decided to defer the bus and minibus strike by two weeks. The state transport minister has assured us that our demand for a fare hike following the recent diesel price rise will be looked in a positive way," Joint Council of Bus Syndicate, secretary, Sadhan Das said.
He said that the deferment was also because there were university examinations.
"We will again sit for talks with the state government after two weeks," Das said after a meeting with Transport minister Madan Mitra.

The bus and minibus operators last week had called a two day bus strike from August 19 to demand a fare hike.
The transport minister, however, said after the meeting, "We understand the problem of the bus operators. But at present we don't feel there is a question or situation for a fare hike.