Odisha Drivers' Strike Grinds Public Transport to a Halt

Chaos gripped Odisha’s roads on Tuesday as the Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha launched a statewide cease-work protest, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Private bus services screeched to a halt in cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Rourkela, Berhampur, and Bolangir, with bus stands packed with frustrated passengers.

The protest, dubbed the "Steering Chhado Andolan," saw drivers of buses, trucks, taxis, vans, and auto-rickshaws unite to demand better welfare measures. Led by the Mahasangha, the drivers are pushing for a pension scheme for those unable to work after age 60, rest sheds every 100 km along major roads, death benefits, and compensation for accident-related work stoppages. They also called for auto-rickshaw drivers to be included in the Odisha Motor Transport Drivers and Workers’ Welfare Board and opposed police powers to check vehicles, citing harassment concerns.

“These are our rights, not demands,” said Aditya Prasad Behera, the association’s treasurer, as drivers staged peaceful demonstrations and dharnas across the state. Emergency services and vehicles for the Puri Rath Yatra were exempted from the strike, ensuring critical operations continued.

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Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena acknowledged the drivers’ grievances, calling some demands “genuine.” He announced plans for talks with the Mahasangha later on Tuesday, expressing confidence in reaching a resolution. “We’re committed to addressing their concerns,” Jena said.

As Odisha’s public transport remains crippled, commuters hope for a swift end to the standoff. With no immediate solution in sight, the strike underscores the drivers’ critical role in keeping the state moving.

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