Bhubaneswar: The government is under pressure to go back on its plan to stop irregular plying of private buses after the All-Odisha Bus Owners' Association threatened another indefinite strike.

"We are aware of the demand and held a meeting with our officials to find a solution. We have decided to form a committee to look into the bus owners' problems. We will go ahead based on the committee's report," said a transport department official.

In January, the government devised a plan to stop irregular plying of private buses and auto-rickshaws to make room for city buses in public-private-partnership mode.

However, the bus owners' association went on a state-wide strike that saw 17,000 buses taken off the road in March, causing inconvenience to people.

The government has also decided not to issue new permits to buses for inter-city routes. However, buses that already have permits will be allowed to run.

Association spokesperson Debasis Nayak said he was hopeful the committee will find a solution. "The government has assured us that the committee will submit its report within three months."

Sources said the decision to regulate private bus and auto-rickshaw services was taken following the increasing demand for city buses amid plans to modernise the service to revamp the mobility sector.

"It is arbitrary of the government to regulate our services in such a manner. It is fine that they want to improve their services, but doing it at the cost of our livelihood is not right. We are not going to allow it," said Hira Mohanty, a private bus operator.

Commuters also supported the association and said there was a need to increase the number of city buses rather than stopping private ones. "There are not enough city buses. We need the private buses," said Dinesh Mohanty, a commuter.