GUWAHATI: Following the announcement of a 48-hour strike by the Joint Platform of Motor Sramik Union of Assam and the Northeast Petroleum Mazdoor Union against amendments to the MV Act, Guwahati residents are expressing concern over disruptions in their daily commute due to significant impacts on city transportation.
Both unions had called for the strike on Thursday, demanding the withdrawal of amendments that impose substantial fines and ten years of imprisonment for drivers involved in accidents.
Union members from both associations expressed worries about the severe consequences for drivers and emphasised the need for improved security measures.
Several incidents were reported where individuals intimidated auto-rickshaw and rickshaw drivers to leave the stands and comply with the strike.
Residents across various areas of the city expressed their concern, facing a lack of transportation options due to the strike.
Banashree Dutta Roy, a resident of the Rehabari area of the city, stated, “I usually take a rickshaw to Paltan Bazaar Bus Stand from Rehabari every morning. However, today, there were no rickshaws at the stand, and no other alternatives were available. I had to resort to booking an Uber-bike service to reach the bus stand as cabs were also not available.”
Mitul Kalita, a Rangia resident who commutes to Guwahati for work, mentioned that no vehicles were available today from Rangia to Guwahati. Consequently, he had to ride his motorcycle to work.
Kalita added, “I usually take a bus or a traveller every day to Jalukbari from Rangia and then a bus to my workplace. However, today, there were no buses or travellers available. The same situation is observed with inter-city transportation to and from Nalbari and Barpeta.”
GPlus surveyed the streets of Guwahati, discovering that, aside from a few ASTC/CNG buses, no other vehicles were operating in the city.
Smaller public transportation options such as rickshaws, ‘magic’, trekkers, etc., were either very limited or not operational.