After three tense days of the Odisha Drivers’ Federation’s steering-wheel-off agitation, Supply Minister Krushna Chandra Patra has announced that the protest will be resolved by tonight.
Addressing concerns of a potential fuel crisis, Patra assured that petrol and diesel supplies remain adequate across the state and urged citizens not to panic.
He emphasised that the Odisha government is considering most of the drivers’ demands and warned against black-marketing of essential goods. Market shelves remain well-stocked, and the situation is under control.
Public transportation had been severely affected, with bus services disrupted and passengers stranded. Particularly vulnerable were those awaiting medical care. Early morning queues outside petrol pumps reflected anxiety over a potential shortage—an outcome now avoided, thanks to timely intervention.
As discussions progress toward a peaceful resolution, the minister’s assurances come as a relief to countless residents who had feared extended inconvenience.