Following a protest by bus drivers at the Sadiya border, nighttime bus services between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have been suspended indefinitely. In Arunachal Pradesh, drivers have made the decision to stop all nighttime bus service from Roing until their demands are addressed.
Grievances over unlawful harassment and extortion at checkpoints in the Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh are the root cause of the protest. According to the drivers, buses are required to pay a number of unlawful fees when they enter Arunachal Pradesh. It is currently reported that travellers must pay an additional ₹50 at the check gate in addition to the standard ₹30 fare. Additionally, bus drivers are allegedly forced to give specific groups or organizations unapproved “donations” of up to ₹15,000 per bus.
According to The Assam Tribune report, Bitu Sharma, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Day and Night Bus Association said to the media, “They are extorting money from buses plying this road. They also demand funds in the name of unions and events. They threaten us that if we don’t pay, we will be thrashed. We operate legally with permits. If extra payments are demanded, we will run only within Assam.”
Members of the Night Bus Drivers' Association assembled at the Assam-Arunachal border's Shanti Pur check gate to express their concerns during the demonstration. To address the problem, the association has called on the Dibang Valley district administration to step in right away.
The drivers issued a warning that night bus services between Roing and Assam will be suspended indefinitely unless the issue is resolved quickly, which would seriously cause trouble for tourists and passengers crossing the border. However, as a backup plan, travellers can still take advantage of the regular day and night bus services from Shantipur on the Assam side.
