Drivers’ Association Hits Roads

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Driver Ekata Mahamanch on Wednesday (drivers association) started its indefinite strike over a 10 point charter of demands. Following the strike the association has blocked a number of roads and national highways across Odisha.

However, the Private Bus Owners Association has already clarified that they will not join the agitation. This decision has been taken jointly by the Odisha Drivers Association, Odisha Motorists Association, Odisha Transport Association and Kalinga Auto Association over the ongoing matriculation examination in the state. The union has said that there will be no protest in Bhubaneswar. However, the workers in the district will give their opinion according to their decision.

Akshay Naik, leader of Drivers Ekta Mahamanch, “The movement will be carried out with the cooperation of everyone. School buses, buses engaged in examination duty, buses carrying students, ambulance medical staff, ambulance electrical department buses, etc. are allowed to go. However, the vehicles used for transporting various goods will be stopped, said Akshay Naik, leader of Drivers Ekta Mahamanch.

Meanwhile, the state government has urged the agitating drivers to call off the indefinite strike as their demands were under active consideration. Minister of Commerce and Transport Tukuni Sahu held a meeting with the Mahamancha members on Tuesday and requested them to call off the strike in view of the Matriculation, Plus II and Polytechnic examinations in the state.