Patna, Jan. 30: Around 300 private buses stayed off streets today, leaving commuters stranded across the city. Auto drivers had a field day, ferrying loads of passengers.

Around 2,000 drivers and conductors, operating minibuses under the aegis of Nagar Seva Minibus Owners’ Association, went on strike in protest against alleged anarchy in the operation of buses of Eden Transport Private Limited. The minibus owners’ association claimed that they were unable to operate their buses smoothly because the vehicles of Eden Transport Private Limited mostly occupied the stands. They also alleged that Eden Transport Private Limited buses flouted several norms to generate revenue.

The Nagar Seva Minibus Owners’ Association’s protest against the anarchy of another bus operator triggered chaos across the city. Several office-goers were found stranded at bus stand in the morning hours. Their agony intensified on their way back home, as autorickshaws were full with hassled commuters.

The chaos was palpable right from the morning. Those used to travelling in the buses operated by Nagar Seva Minibus Owners’ Association were cut-up because of the pocket pinch.

Ravi Kumar, a resident of Khagaul, said: “The yellow buses (operated by Nagar Seva Minibus Owners’ Association) are cheaper. Against Rs 10 charged in ring route buses for travelling between Gandhi Maidan and Khagaul, the fare in yellow buses is only Rs 8. I had to spend extra bucks today because of the strike.”

Ashok Sharma, waiting for a bus near JD Women’s College, said: “Usually I get a bus within five minutes. But today I am waiting here for around 25 minutes. Not a single bus surfaced. The autos plying on the route are full.”

Kumar Jha, the general secretary of Bihar State Auto Drivers’ Association admitted there was mad rush in autos today because of the bus strike. “The number of passengers in autorickshaws was comparatively higher today. Most of them were regular bus commuters.”

Umesh Sinha, the general secretary of Nagar Seva Minibus Owner’ Association, blamed Eden Transport Private Limited for the passengers’ hassles. He said: “On Sunday, several employees of Eden Transport Private Limited manhandled me when I complained about their bus being parked at the stand (near Kargil Chowk) earmarked for our minibuses. According to the agreement between Eden Transport Private Limited and Bihar State Road Transport Corporation, they are supposed to park their buses at the Bankipore bus depot.”

Sinha alleged that Eden Transport Private Limited operates around 10 to 12 buses without permit.

He added: “We communicated our grievance to the chief minister, the district magistrate and the transport minister around six months ago. We will wait for one more month. If our grievances are not addressed by then, we will go on an indefinite strike.”

Authorities concerned claimed that they had not received any communication from Nagar Seva Minibus Owner’ Association. (See graphics)

Eden Transport Private Limited officials denied the charges. “We and Nagar Seva minibuses are allowed to park at the Kargil Chowk bus stand. Banikpore bus depot has been given to us for night parking only. None of our buses operate without permit,” said Kunal Sharma, the chief operations officer of Eden Transport Private Limited in Patna.