Truck drivers in Odisha’s ongoing strike enters its third day, causing disruptions in passenger bus services, and the transportation of petroleum products and milk across the state. The Odisha Drivers’ Mahasangha has declared that the strike will continue, despite the optimism expressed by state transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur, who believes that the agitation will soon come to an end. This strike is part of the nationwide protest by drivers against the recently enacted hit-and-run law under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which replaces the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC). Prashant Menduli, the president of the Mahasangha, stated that discussions with both the state and central governments are ongoing, hence the strike will persist. The drivers are particularly concerned about the provision in the BNS that allows for imprisonment of up to two years under Section 304 of the IPC for accidents. Under the BNS, drivers who cause serious road accidents due to negligent driving and flee without informing the police or any administrative official can face up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine of Rs 7 lakh. The strike has also severely impacted the transportation of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas. Petrol dealers fear that if the strike continues, the state may experience a fuel shortage. Panic buying has already led to a 20% increase in petrol and diesel sales in the state, and loading of essential fuels at depots has decreased by 75%. Consequently, the dispatch of fuel-carrying vehicles from Paradip depot has been halted. Furthermore, the strike has caused a shortage of milk in cities like Bhubaneswar, as transportation has been disrupted. The Odisha State Co-operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (OMFED) is unable to transport milk to the market due to the drivers’ protest. The impact of the strike is also evident at Cuttack’s Netaji Bus Terminal, where people are experiencing long waits for buses. The strike’s consequences are already being felt, and unless a resolution is reached soon, the situation may worsen.
Drivers in Odisha, India continue their strike, causing disruptions to the supply of fuel and milk. The ongoing protest, led by several transport associations, has resulted in a shortage of fuel at petrol stations and a delay in milk distribution across the state. The strike, which began on Monday, stems from the drivers’ demands for increased wages and better working conditions. As negotiations between the government and transport unions remain unresolved, the strike’s impact on the daily lives of the people in Odisha persists.
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Odisha drivers’ strike persists; fuel and milk supply affected.
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