Bus owners to defer strike against plying of illegal vehicles

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 DEC: Following the request of the district administration, the Malda Bus and Mini Bus Owners’ Association (MBMBOA) deferred the indefinite passengers’ transport strike called by them.The MBMBOA had called for an indefinite strike starting today, demanding administrative action against thousands of illegal motorized three-wheeler vans plying on state and national highways.The association also demanded that another passenger carrier, Tata Magic van should not be allowed to ply on the road without the permission of regional transport department. Yesterday, the district administrative officials including the Malda DM, ADMs, RTO and additional SP held a meeting with the MBMBOA members and assured them that the administration would take action against illegal motorized van and other vehicles plying without route permit from the RTO. The district magistrate sought time from the MBMBOA up to 6 January to take action against them and requested them to call off their 15 December strike. The secretary of the MBMBOA, Mr Uttam Roy said: “We have deferred the strike following request of the administration. On 6 January, the district administration will hold a review meeting on the issue following our demand."“If the situation remains unchanged, we will go on strike after 6 January," Mr Roy said. According to Mr Roy, illegal, mechanized three-wheeler vans are carrying passengers on the state highway and also the National Highway. The business of a bus owner is being hampered by numberless machanised vans (Bhutbhuti) which carrying passengers. Other vans, like Tata Magic, are plying on state and national highways without route permit from the RTO. These vehicles are getting permit from the STA (state transport authority). “We demanded that the district administration convey to the STA our request that it should not give permission to Tata Magic in districts like Malda. The STA can give permission to such vehicles for plying only in industrial belts," Mr. Uttam Roy, secretary of the MBMBOA, said.The district administration has acknowledged the problem faced by the bus owners’ association. The district magistrate, Mr Sridhar Ghosh said: “Illegal mechanised vans (bhutbhuti) are creating problems. These mechanised vans cannot carry passengers. But at present, these vans are carrying passengers not only through the state highway but also the NH-34."“We shall be held responsible if such vans face any major accident and few passengers are killed owing to the accident. If such vehicles carry goods we will not take action. But if they carry passengers on the state or national highways we must take action against them," said Mr Ghosh.He also said: “If mechanised vans ply in interior villages, where there are no bus services, we will not look into them."