Tue May 20 18:25:19 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Transport operators in West Bengal have called for a 72-hour strike, beginning May 22nd, due to grievances over alleged police harassment, stringent government directives, and the mandatory use of the “Sanjog Portal” for traffic violations. Operators claim arbitrary fines and the inability to obtain fitness certificates with unresolved violations are crippling their businesses. Negotiations with the Transport Secretary have failed to yield satisfactory results, leading them to call for the Chief Minister’s intervention as a last resort.

**News Article:**

**West Bengal Faces Transport Gridlock as Operators Announce 72-Hour Strike**

**KOLKATA, May 20, 2025** – Commuters across West Bengal are bracing for disruption as transport operators’ associations have announced a 72-hour strike, beginning May 22nd and continuing through May 24th. The strike, primarily driven by bus operators, stems from what they describe as “unsatisfactory” government responses to their concerns regarding alleged police harassment and the stringent implementation of new transport directives.

Operators are specifically protesting the use of the “Sanjog Portal,” a unified e-challan system for traffic violations, claiming that traffic police and civic volunteers are using it to impose arbitrary and excessive fines. They also express frustration over a directive preventing vehicles with unresolved violation cases from obtaining fitness or pollution certificates.

“This has become a fight for survival,” said Sandip Sengupta, Secretary of the Minibus Operators Coordination Committee. “The police torture and the government’s Sanjog Portal are making it impossible for us to earn a living.”

Negotiations with Transport Secretary Saumitra Mohan have reportedly reached an impasse. Pradip Narayan Basu, Secretary of the West Bengal Bus Minibus Owners’ Association, stated, “We did not receive anything concrete regarding our demands, which is why we are compelled to bring our services to a halt.”

Transport representatives are now appealing to the Chief Minister for intervention, considering it their last hope to avert a significant disruption of public transportation services. The strike threatens to cripple daily life for many residents and potentially impact businesses across the state. Authorities are yet to issue a formal response to the announced strike.

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