A representative picture of the file. | Photo Credit: Debasish Bhaduri
Several associations of transport operators throughout the Bengal region demanded a 72 -hour strike since May 22, claiming the government’s “unsatisfactory” response to their complaints against “police oppression” and strict government directives.
Representatives of the Association of Transport Operator operators met with the Minister of Transport Saumitra Mohan several times and reportedly for the last time on Tuesday before they called the strike of their “last option”.
Their requirements include the termination of alleged police excesses and the release of certain directives surrounding the fitness of the vehicle.
“This has now become a struggle for survival, with police torture and the government’s Sanjog portal. It will no longer be possible to feed our families or educate our children for us,” said Sandip Sengupta, Secretary of the Coordination Coordination Coordination Committee for Minibus after meeting the government authorities on Tuesday.
Sanjog Portal is a unified E-Haplan system that has recently introduced the state government for online solutions to disturbing transport and fine payments.
“Any fines”
Transport operators protest against the recent Directive of the Ministry ordering the use of the Sanjog portal. They accused the staff of the traffic police and citizen volunteers of imposing any fines and quoted it as another financial burden over rising operating costs.
The State Transport Department also ordered that the vehicles would not be issued any certificate of fitness or pollution, with unresolved cases of violations, which would add to the suffering of transport owners.
“We had a virtual meeting on Tuesday. But we didn’t get a satisfactory answer from them. They said they would look into this matter. We didn’t get anything specific about our requirements, and therefore we were forced to stop our services on May 22, 23 May and May 24th.
Several representatives who met with the Minister of Transport, including Mr. Basa, said on Tuesday that the intervention of the main minister is their “last hope of maintaining traffic”.
Published – May 20, 2025 23:55
