Sambalpur: “Mo Bus” Workers Protest Over Rs. 5,000 Fines; Withdraw After Assurances from Authorities
Sambalpur: Today, “Mo Bus” guides (conductors) in Sambalpur staged a protest starting at 5 AM at Ainthapali Bus Stand. They raised concerns about being fined without proper reasons. However, after discussions with the administration, the situation returned to normal by noon.
Reasons Behind the Protest
The protest was led by “Mo Bus” guides working under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT). According to them, they were being fined Rs. 5,000 for even small mistakes and were also being suspended. Additionally, they claimed that the fines were being collected in cash instead of online payments, and no receipts were provided.
Workers’ Complaints
A guide was fined Rs. 5,000 after failing to issue a ticket to a passenger during a crowded journey. He also mentioned that even if they didn’t wear their belt correctly, they were punished. Furthermore, they were not allowed to use their phones during an emergency, despite the fact that many workers are separated from their families while working in Sambalpur. In case of a family emergency, they were still not permitted to call.
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No Appointment Letters and Salary Issues
The workers also complained that they hadn’t received appointment letters and were paid only through a system that didn’t provide a proper salary slip. Due to these problems, the workers initiated the protest, which affected passengers who rely on the bus service.
Situation Returned to Normal
By mid-morning, regional transport officer (RTO) Ramdas Tudu arrived at the bus stand after hearing about the protest. After holding talks with the workers, the bus services resumed normally by 11:30 AM.
RTO Tudu assured that all the workers’ demands would be considered and advised CRUT officials to investigate before imposing any fines. He also mentioned that “Mo Bus” is an important service for commuting within Sambalpur, Burla, Hirakud, and Chipilima, and the smooth resumption of bus services provided relief to passengers.
