Commuters in the city are bracing for hardships as private bus and mini bus operators will go on a one-day strike in the city and its outskirts on September 21 protesting against "police atrocities".
Around 15,000 buses and mini buses would be off the roads in the city, Howrah and both North 24-Parganas and South 24-Parganas districts on Monday.
Bus operators of Bengal Bus Syndicate, Joint Council of Bus Syndicates along with Minibus Operator Coordination Committee, All Bengal Bus and Minibus Sammanay Samity and Howrah Jilla Bus Syndicates would join the strike.
"It has become quite impossible for us to operate buses because of police atrocities. They are issuing fines for reasons unclear to us. It is most unfortunate that the state government did not listen to us and reduce the fine. So, we have decided to go for a one-day strike," Joint Council of Bus Syndicates general secretary Tapan Banerjee told PTI.
"Things are turning from bad to worse every day with the prices of fuel, lubricants and spares going up. And police atrocities are adding to our problems," he said.
Incidentally, private bus operators had met principal secretary of the state transport department, Alapan Bandyopadhyay several times, requesting him to reduce fines for traffic violation cases, Banerjee said.
"Hopefully our message will reach the Chief Minister and she will look into our plight," he added.
