Ama Bus Drivers Launch 'Steering Down' Protest In Bhubaneswar Over Salary Delay

Bhubaneswar: Drivers of Ama Bus service launched a ‘steering down’ protest in Bhubaneswar on Saturday demanding timely payment of salary. The stir affected the public transport system in the city.

Following the protest by drivers, over 43 buses remained parked at the Pokhariput depot, causing disruption in service and considerable problem for daily commuters.

Stating that their salaries are normally credited by the tenth of every month, the protesting drivers said they received their August salary on the eleventh. However, no payment has been received so far this month, they claimed.

Though the authorities have been giving false assurances for the last three days, salary is yet to be received so far this month, the protesters said.

Moreover, the authorities have not provided any restroom for Ama Bus employees, who are made to work extra hours without weekly off. There is no provision for ESI benefits for the employees also, they claimed.

The protesters also claimed that they have been denied social security benefits as the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), which operates Ama Bus, has outsourced the driver appointments to another agency.