Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In the event that the state government begins operating bus services from block headquarters to district headquarters on November 1, the All Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association (AOPBOA) has resolved to go on strike.According to AOPBOA secretary Debendra Sahu, if the government begins operating buses from block headquarters to district headquarters in Kalahandi under the LAccMI scheme, they will carry out their 24-hour strike in ten districts of the state on November 1.
As part of their agitation, he added, private bus owners will not rent out their cars to carry people to political party meetings and other events. But if the government gives in to its demands and stops operating the buses from block headquarters to district headquarters as part of its Location Accessible Multimodal Initiative (LAccMI) program, the association will call off the strike.In a meeting set for November 8, the association will determine its future course of action, he continued.
In opposition to the LAccMI, the association had threatened to go on strike starting on October 10. However, it was postponed after the government gave assurances that the buses would only run from panchayats to blocks, not to district headquarters. The government was accused of breaking its promise, and on October 20, which was also the start of Durga Puja celebrations, an indefinite strike was declared. However, the association decided to postpone the strike until that same day, October 31.
Tukuni Sahu, the minister of transportation, announced on October 26 that the bus strike has been pushed back until October 31. No cancellation has been made. On 30th October, the association’s general body will decide on the next course of action.
