Bhubaneswar, Oct 20: A state-wide strike by private buses in Odisha commenced today following the breakdown of negotiations between the All Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association (AOPBOA) and the state government.

Approximately 14,000 private buses, organized by the Private Bus Owners' Association, have suspended their services indefinitely across the state in protest against the Location-Accessible Multimodal Initiative (LAccMI) introduced by the government.

In the wake of unsuccessful discussions between the Odisha Private Bus Owners Association and the state government, private buses have remained off the roads in the state. These private bus operators were unwavering in their decision to launch an indefinite strike beginning on October 20.

The strike action, aimed at opposing the state government's LAccMI initiative, which seeks to provide affordable transportation across the state, was initiated at 6 am. Debendra Sahu, the secretary of the Private Bus Owners' Association, conveyed to the media, "Our decision to commence an indefinite strike on October 20 at 6 am stands firm, as the talks with the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Thursday ended inconclusively." Sahu also stressed that despite the discussions with the CMO, they had not received written assurances regarding their demands.

Sahu further underscored that the decision to strike during the festive period was not meant to inconvenience the public. He expressed, "We were compelled to take this step against our will. We apologize to the commuters for the inconvenience they are experiencing."

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