The employees began an indefinite work stoppage on Wednesday, October 14, alleging that their salaries for the past two months remain unpaid and that they have not received their expected Durga Puja bonuses.
The suspension has affected ferry operations at several ghats, disrupting an important mode of transport for passengers travelling between Howrah and Kolkata. The interruption has caused difficulties for regular commuters as well as people travelling to visit Durga Puja pandals.
According to reports, employees had previously raised concerns over the pending payments and warned that services could be halted if their demands remained unaddressed. The decision to stop operations has now disrupted river transport across multiple routes.
Discussions with the authorities are reportedly underway on Thursday, October 15, in an attempt to resolve the dispute and facilitate the resumption of ferry services. However, commuters may continue to face inconvenience until operations are restored.
The immediate focus remains on resolving the salary and bonus issue so that normal ferry services can resume. Passengers travelling between Howrah and Kolkata are advised to check the latest service updates and consider alternative transport arrangements before beginning their journeys.
