Students seek fare waiver

BHUBANESWAR: Commuters of City buses from Cuttack had a harrowing time on Monday. They were forced to cool their heels at Vani Vihar due to a road blockade by Chhatra Congress.  Students, mostly from Utkal University, under the aegis of Chhatra Congress stopped  all City buses from Cuttack and Puri for over an hour. There was no respite for commuters in other areas too as similar agitations were also staged by the students at Jaydev Vihar, Master Canteen and other routes of the City buses. The agitators were demanding free travel to college students in City buses run by the State Government in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri. If not free, the agitators demanded concession to students travelling in these buses in their uniforms along with their college ID cards. “Private bus operators have already hiked their fares and under these circumstances, at least the government buses should provide some respite to the students who cannot afford to spend ` 50 a day for just travelling,” said Tanmay Swain, an activist of Chhatra Congress. The students alleged that a similar plea was made by the students in 2008 for concession in private buses but in vain.  The Chhatra Congress members have decided to stage another road blockade at the Master Canteen square on Tuesday. They  also threatened to stop City buses at the Master Canteen bus depot. They said Tuesday’s agitation would be bigger as students of all colleges across Cuttack and Bhubaneswar had been informed. They also threatened to intensify the stir if the State Government ignored their demand.