Kolkata:
Bus operators in West Bengal on Sunday deferred for a month the three-day strike they had called beginning June 25 to press for an increase in fares.
The six private bus and minibus operators of the state, who had earlier this week announced the strike, decided to postpone the agitation till July 23 following a meeting with Transport Minister Madan Mitra during the day.
"This morning, the transport minister asked the six operators to sit with him. We had a three-hour-long discussion. He informed us that an all-party panel has been formed to look into the matter, and it will submit its recommendations by July 23.
"On the basis of his assurances, we have deferred the strike," Joint Council of Bus Syndicate (JCBS) joint secretary Tapan Bandopadhyay told mediapersons.
Mr Bandopadhyay said the operators had put three conditions - intervention of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a specific date from the government for announcing the enhanced fares, and an admission on the part of the authorities that the demand for fare hike was reasonable.