Assam: Motor Workers’ Protest Criples Transportation Sector

GUWAHATI: Several organisations associated with the transportation sector including bus and truck drivers across the state have answered the calls for protests against the new law regarding strict action against those involved in hit-and-run cases. This protest has crippled the transportation sector of the state on Friday causing problems in terms of the movement of goods as well as the people in different parts of the state.

The call for the boycott of services had a large effect on the capital city late on Thursday and Friday morning. While almost all fuel depots of the city saw massive crowds on Thursday, citizens came face to face with the lack of transportation sources on Friday morning. This left many people waiting on the road unable to reach their offices and other destinations. While some of ASTC busses continued to ply, private city buses and smaller passenger and commercial vehicles are not to be seen on the roads.

Our sources in Biswanath have mentioned that the call for the protest has resulted in a complete shutdown of services in the district. The workers involved in the sector have come out in large numbers to the National Highway and voiced their protest in peace. Meanwhile, the members of the district truck drivers association, who are also participating in the same protest have taken a novel way of sharing their concerns. The protesting members stopped the truck drivers who were not participating in the same and operated their vehicles and garlanded them with a traditional phulam gamocha each and made them aware of the new law. Meanwhile, the district police have taken all the necessary steps to prevent any untoward incident and the protesters have not been involved in any untoward incident at the time of filing this report.

Similar protesters have been reported from the Bongaigaon district as well. The protesters blocked the National Highway 27 at the Saktola locality of the district for some time. Demanding the repeal of the law, the drivers mentioned that in a condition where this law is in place, it will be better for them to stop driving commercial vehicles and engage themselves as daily wage labourers. After interaction with the Superintendent of Police for the district, the protesters decided to remove the roadblock but continued with their protest.

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