The proposed 24-hour strike by private bus operators in 14 districts of Odisha has been called off following a meeting between the bus owners and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena. The bus operators had planned the strike to protest against the implementation of the LAccMI bus service, which is set to connect block headquarters to district headquarters.

The decision to call off the strike was announced after fruitful discussions with the minister in Berhampur on Monday. Loknath Padhi, President of the Private Bus Owners Association, Baliguda, stated that they received assurances from the minister that their concerns would be addressed.

“We have decided to call off our strike from this evening as the minister has assured us that he will certainly look into our demands,” said Padhi after the meeting. The association had previously announced the strike to begin at 6 pm on Monday, impacting bus services across south and western Odisha.

The LAccMI bus service is part of the state’s efforts to enhance connectivity between block and district headquarters, which the private operators fear will affect their business. However, with the government agreeing to review the concerns, the strike has been averted, ensuring no disruption to public transport.

This development comes as a relief to commuters in the 14 districts, including Baliguda, who depend heavily on private buses for travel. Further discussions between the government and the bus operators are expected to take place to resolve the issue amicably.