Administration to end stalemate over bus fare

Statesman News Service

MALDA, ( India) Dec. 5. — The Malda district administration has called an urgent meeting on 9 December to resolve the present stalemate between the commuters and the bus owners on the recent bus fare hike, officials here said on Monday.

Authorities said after implementation of the revised bus rate, sporadic clashes between the commuters and bus owners and its staffs were reported from various areas.

The Malda Superintendent of Police was also requested to monitor the situation and take necessary steps to stop any untoward incident.

“The students and other related organisations especially the Malda SP, have been informed to attend the meeting to resolve the present situation”, said Mr Bhabani Prasad Barat, the additional district magistrate of Malda.

“We can not tolerate any more complaints from the two groups and control the scuffles between the commuters and the bus operators”, he added.

It may be reported that the bus owners had staged demonstration submitting 13-points charter including the development of bad road conditions including the Natinal Highway - 34.

The ADM said that after a meeting with the concerned engineers of roadways it was decided that from January ‘06 the repairing work would start.

The bus owners also demanded that the administration should urge the people to extend their co-operation to the bus owners giving revised fares finalised by the administration.

The administration has allowed the organisation for publication of notices for the public on the issue in which the owners will be getting administrative help.

It may be recalled that the a few days back, the bus operators assaulted three teachers and the daily passengers’ association had to lodge an FIR against them and met the administrative officials demanding action against them.

The leader of the present bus owners association, Mr Uttam Roy has expressed regret for the incident and also protest against commuters’ behaviour on this issue.

Mr Roy claimed that a group of commuters beaten their staff at Muchia under the Malda police station.

“We will not tolerate such incident for long period and would go on strike for indefinite period if the administration failed to protect our interests”, Mr Roy said.

It may be recalled that for the past few days the vehicles including bus, mini bus, trekker and maxi taxi are off the road from the Malda town to Nalagola area. #

Posted on 6 Dec. at 09.23 am