It is day 2 today of the indefinite strike called by the All Assam Transport Association. Because of the Chakka Bandh, commuters, particularly office goers have had to face tough times despite government providing 250 All Assam Transport Corporation’s (ASTC) buses to ply as city buses and another 650 buses for inter-state movement. The private bus operators were forced to call for the strike because it had become increasingly difficult for the bus owners, transporters and the drivers and handymen to make ends meet.
Post the lockdown, buses and other public transport like trackers and e-rickshaws have to run with 50 per cent passengers only to ensure social distancing and other COVID protocol. This, as many drivers and transporters have said, has reduced the earnings manifold as they have not been allowed to raise fares. What has further compounded the problem are the rising fuel prices and soaring prices of vegetables and other everyday essentials. The bus operators are not even making enough to buy fuel for the buses.