Overview

• Private bus and minibus operators in West Bengal had planned a 72-hour strike starting May 22 to protest police actions, financial pressures, and the mandatory Sanjog Portal system.
• The strike was called off after a late-night intervention by Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty and a high-level meeting on May 21 with government officials and police representatives.
• The government agreed to exclude pre-May 31 cases from the Sanjog Portal pilot, extend the trial phase to three months, and hold monthly meetings with operators to address concerns.
• Key demands from operators included relaxing the 15-year age limit for buses, revising passenger fares, and addressing allegations of police harassment and excessive fines.
• The suspension of the strike provides temporary relief for commuters, with the operators deferring further action until September pending the outcomes of the government's commitments.