Bus, minibus strike in city, adjoining dists on June 7

Bus and minibus operators will go on strike on June 7 in Kolkata and adjoining districts demanding hike in fares owing to the steep increase in fuel prices, one of the largest public transport bus unions of West Bengal said here today.

Joint Council of Bus Syndicates general secretary, Tapan Banerjee said the strike is being held as the West Bengal Transport department, despite repeated pleas to it by the bus operators to increase bus fares has not responded to their demand.

He said that on June 7, private buses and minibuses will stay off the roads in Kolkata and adjoining South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts.

"If our demand is still not met we will go for a state-wide strike to press for hike in fares," Banerjee said.

He claimed that owing to the high diesel prices, 60 per cent of private buses have been taken off the roads by their owners due to continued operational losses.

Truckers in the state have also announced an indefinite strike from June 18 in line with their national body's call to protest diesel price hike and to press for other demands related to alleged police excesses and overloading by transport agencies.

Taxi operators in the state owing allegience to Bengal Taxi Association have called a three-day strike from June 18 seeking hike in fares.