Kolkata:
Commuters in West Bengal were in for a tough Monday morning as private bus operators began an indefinite strike today. Close to 37,000 private buses were off the roads in the state affecting almost 40 lakh passengers statewide. The transporters have demanded a fare hike after diesel prices were increased by Rs 5 per litre on Thursday.
In state capital Kolkata, at least 6500 privately-run buses were off the roads. There was overcrowding in state-run buses despite Transport Minister Madan Mitra's promise to ply additional buses to minimise the effect of the strike. As a result, taxis and autorickshaws were high on demand. There was also huge rush to avail Metro Rail and ferry services in the city.
The transport crisis is likely to escalate further when the Bengal Taxi Association will go on a three-day strike from Thursday with a similar demand.
Yesterday, the talks between the state government and bus owners' associations failed after the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate (JCBS) and the Bengal Bus Syndicate (BBS) stayed away from the meeting called by Mr Mitra. He had urged the transporters to withdraw the strike and wait till Tuesday when the Trinamool Congress is expected to hold a crucial meeting on the Centre's decisions on diesel prices, LPG and Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail.
The Chief Minister had on Friday issued a 72-hour deadline to the government for the move to allow FDI in multi-brand retail to be rolled back. Sources have told NDTV that Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to withdraw her ministers from the UPA cabinet if it sticks to its decisions. The Trinamool Congress is expected to take a final call on Tuesday when Ms Banerjee meets with her party's top brass.