Kolkata: Bus services remained unaffected with no response to the token strike called by an association of bus owners.
It may be mentioned that the association has called for a token strike by urging bus owners not to ply their vehicles during non-office hours for three days from Monday in and around Kolkata demanding hike in fare with increase in diesel prices.
But there was no response to the same and people have not faced any problem in availing private buses in anytime of the day.
However, the state Transport department had kept 200 additional buses as stand-by to operate if necessary. With private bus services remaining normal, there was no need to operate the additional state-run buses.
The association had proposed to operate buses from 8 am to 11 am in the morning and again from 3 pm to 7 pm in the evening so that office-goers do not face trouble in commuting. But private bus services remained normal throughout the day.
It may be mentioned that other associations of the private and mini-bus owners had opposed the move of going for the token strike.
State Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari said in this connection: "The transport system was normal. No passengers were harassed. Around 200 buses were kept as stand-by. However, there was no need felt to operate the same."
The state Transport department was prepared to cancel permits of the buses if found not operating as per the time table.
It was also not necessary as the officials of the state Transport department found that the private buses operated maintaining proper timings.