Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Ama Bus drivers’ “steering down” protest caused major disruptions to Bhubaneswar’s public transportation system on Saturday. 42 buses were reportedly halted at the Pokhariput depot by the drivers, who demanded prompt payment of their salaries. This caused trouble on several routes and left everyday passengers stranded. According to the drivers who were protesting, their earnings are normally credited by the tenth of each month. They haven’t yet gotten their September payout, even though they received their August income on the eleventh. The drivers are protesting and demanding a fast resolution as a result of this delay.
Inadequate bathrooms and heavy job pressure from overwork were other grievances raised by the Ama Bus drivers. In addition, their weekly leave is insufficient. The demonstrators claim that their lack of Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) coverage is a major source of worry for them. The drivers’ financial troubles are further compounded by the allegation that Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) is not paying them their salary on time.
