Bus owners block road to protest prolonged closure of Howrah's Bamungachi railway bridge

A major road blockade was staged by bus owners and workers at Bamungachi in Howrah on Monday morning. The protest was triggered by the prolonged closure of the Bamungachi railway bridge for repair work, which has suspended services for four major bus routes. While the administration has diverted some routes through alternative paths, bus owners claim these diversions are not viable and are causing severe financial losses to owners, drivers, and conductors alike.

The protestors expressed their frustration, stating that it has become nearly impossible to maintain their livelihoods and support their families due to the long-standing disruption. They brought their buses to the foot of the bridge and blocked the thoroughfare, demanding that bus services be resumed on the original route immediately. The agitation caused significant traffic snarls in the area during the busy morning hours.

<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1235479275105670%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>

The bus owners raised a serious allegation during the protest. They claimed that while public buses are strictly prohibited from using the bridge due to its condition, heavy lorries are frequently allowed to pass over it during the night, allegedly with the connivance of the police. The owners questioned why buses are being singled out if heavy goods vehicles can still access the structure under the cover of darkness.

Upon receiving news of the blockade, a large police contingent from Liluah and Malipanchghora police stations rushed to the spot. The officers engaged in discussions with the agitating bus owners and provided assurances that their grievances would be looked into by the higher authorities. Following these assurances, the blockade was lifted after approximately 30 minutes, and normal traffic movement was restored in the Bamungachi area.