Guwahati: ASTC Buses Ordered Not To Take Maligaon Route Amid Protest

GUWAHATI: The All Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) sub-urban and long-distance buses arriving in Guwahati were instructed by the Kamrup Metropolitan District on June 1 to go through National Highway 37 via Lokhora, Garchuk, Beltola, or Khanapara in order to reach the Rupnagar depot.

According to the official notification, “Whereas the construction of flyover at Maligaon area is going on and the city is facing tremendous congestion in that area, so the buses of ASTC, coming from Sub-Urban & long distant places are to reach Rupnagar depot through National Highway-37 via Garchuk or Lokhora or Beltola or Khanapara to avoid undue congestion w.e.f 02,06.2023.”

On the other hand, as part of what appears to be a statewide protest, Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) employees threatened to stop operating as of June 1.

Every bus station in Assam has reportedly been declared a strike location by ASTC employees. Following a decision by the state administration to absolve 771 people of their duties for allegedly acquiring employment through unfair means, this has happened.

An argument broke out at the company's office in Guwahati's Paltanbazar district on Wednesday after the decision was made.

A number of the affected workers met at the ASTC office in Paltanbazar and confronted the State Transport Employees Union general secretary with questions regarding their unannounced termination from their positions.

As the irate workers asked that the decision to fire them be promptly overturned, the situation worsened.

On Thursday morning, a stopped passenger bus unexpectedly caught fire at a depot in the Tinsukia region of Assam. The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) bus depot in Tinsukia is where the event was reported.

According to sources, the bus with the licence plate "AS12 BC 9447" was completely destroyed in the fire, the cause of which has not yet been determined.

On Thursday morning, an ASTC bus was scheduled to depart for Tezpur but unexpectedly caught fire. Fortunately, no one was hurt because no passengers had yet boarded the bus.

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