Three-day transport strike starts in Aizawl

AIZAWL: There was minimum vehicular traffic in Aizawl as Commercial Vehicle Joint Action Committee organised 3-day strike from 6 am today to protest different decisions made by the state government.

City buses and taxis were off the road while the state government pushed around 50 government buses including the Mizoram State Transport (MST) buses to ply in the city during the strike which would continue till Friday evening.

Meanwhile, association of taxi owners and drivers said that they would join the stir for only on the first day and would continue service from Thursday.

"We could not continue the strike as it is our most profitable season," the taxi owners said, adding that organising a strike during Christmas season did not suit their business.

The maxicab owners association also refused to join the strike as movement of people to and from the villages was the highest during Christmas festivities.

State transport minister John Rotluangliana warned that licences and permits of commercial vehicles would be cancelled if they continue with the stir.

The striking commercial vehicle owners demanded cancellation of new city bus permits issued by the state government and also sought permission to replace old buses.