Kolkata: Pool cars are set to be taken off the roads from April 24 instead of the originally planned April 27, following random requisitioning for poll duty, a pool car association has informed police and schools. Many schools have decided to conduct online classes until the conclusion of the elections.
Urgent Concerns Over Premature Requisitioning
Urgency escalated after several pool cars were allegedly intercepted while transporting children to or from school and were commandeered for election duty on Wednesday and Thursday. Sudip Dutta, secretary of the Pool Car Owners Welfare Association, stated, "When the slips on the cars clearly indicate the reporting date as April 27, why are the cars being taken arbitrarily? We have written to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) and the police, and we have decided to take pool cars off the road from April 24. Our members and parents have voiced serious concerns."
Election Schedule and Vehicle Requisition
Kolkata and its surrounding areas are scheduled to vote on April 29. A large number of vehicles, including private buses, government buses, taxis, pool cars, and private vehicles, have been requisitioned for transporting central forces, police personnel, polling officers, ballots, and other election-related tasks. Approximately 300 to 350 cars from schools such as South Point, Sushila Birla Girls' School, and Birla High School have been requisitioned and directed to report on April 27. Dutta added, "Despite our efforts to ensure smooth operations, our vehicles already registered on the SUGAM portal for election duty effective April 27, 2026, are still being requisitioned and instructed to report to Fort William for immediate deployment."
Schools Shift to Online Mode
Loreto House has informed parents that classes will be held online from April 24 to May 6. Sunita Sen, principal of BSS School, said, "Our school buses are unaffected and running smoothly; however, we do not want to take any risks next week, so we have decided to shift to online mode." According to pool car owners, in addition to the requisitioned 3,500 pool car vehicles across the state, another 150-odd vehicles have already been requisitioned from the school sector, sources claimed, adding that most schools are aware of the election schedule issues.
Principal's Perspective
Sujoy Biswas, principal of Rammohan Mission School, said, "We do not have any control over pool cars, but classes are currently proceeding as normal and the number of absentees has not increased drastically. We will have a clearer picture of the actual scenario in a few days and will make a decision accordingly." Meanwhile, police reported encountering cars with stickers reading 'booked' pasted on them. However, not all of these have been legally requisitioned. In several instances, fake Election Commission papers have been used.
