Bus and minibus operators in West Bengal called off their 48-hour strike on the second day on Wednesday with immediate effect following the state government's assurances of sympathetically considering their demands, including a hike in fares.

"We have decided to withdraw the strike on the second day with immediate effect following Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty's [Images] assurance to consider our various demands sympathetically within 48 hours," president of Bengal Bus Syndicate Swarnakamal Saha said.

Bus operators had a meeting with Chakraborty during the day.

Asked whether the minister agreed to withdraw cess on diesel and reduce sales tax, Saha said Chakraborty described it as a complex issue involving the Centre and the state governments.

"But he assured us of increasing the bus fares and looking into other demands like stopping of police harassment," he said.

Bengal Taxi Association, which had also participated, called off their strike yesterday itself.