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Buses, taxis to ply today as unions put off transport strike

By Dr arvind, Section News
Posted on Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 02:38:13 AM EST

In a relief to commuters, the transport unions have deferred their statewide strike which was scheduled to be held tomorrow. The strike, called by a number of private bus syndicates, taxi associations and chartered bus unions, was called to protest against the hike in insurance rates. The unions, who were divided on the issue with the Bengal Bus Syndicate, put off their strike following talks with State Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty.

"Officials of the State transport department held talks with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's representatives. We have been promised that they will consider the issue. I have requested the transport unions and bus syndicates to defer the strike, and they have agreed," confirmed Chakraborty.

However, according to sources, lack of unanimity among the associations and bus syndicates also played a role in the decision to defer the strike. Although the strike was supported by the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, Bengal Taxi Association, minibus unions and chartered bus unions, it would not have been a complete success. Declaring its opposition to the strike, the Bengal Bus Syndicate had said its fleet of 5,000 private buses would continue to ply.

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"After the State Transport Minister requested us, we deferred the strike. But we do not trust the Central Government, which has hiked the premium rates of third party insurance. Oil prices are also on the rise. Running buses is no more profitable. Many bus owners are running into losses. Therefore, we were forced to call the strike. After talks, the 150 per cent hike was slashed to 80 per cent, but that too is very high," said Sadhan Das, president of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates.

The protesting associations and syndicate said they would approach the Supreme Court against the hike.

Meanwhile, Swarnakamal Saha, president of the Bengal Bus Syndicate, said: "This was bound to happen as the strike would have been meaningless without our participation. Though we protest the rate hike, we feel there is no need for a strike now. This will only lead to harassment of commuters. We have filed a case in the Calcutta High Court and will appeal in the Supreme Court against the hike. Moreover, it is a national issue and we don't think anything can be achieved by calling a strike in West Bengal."

From: TIE, JAN-25, 2007

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