Kolkata Transport Services Disrupted Ahead of Assembly Elections
Commuters in Kolkata are advised to plan extra time for their journeys as public transport services face significant disruptions in the lead-up to the Assembly elections. Contrary to expectations that transport would only be affected close to voting days, buses and app cabs have already started disappearing from city roads well before the first phase of elections scheduled for April 23 across West Bengal.
Buses Requisitioned for Election Duties
Transport operators report that numerous buses have been taken by the administration for election-related purposes, with some vehicles traveling as far as Midnapore and Murshidabad. These buses are primarily used to transport security personnel and polling booth staff. Additionally, smaller app cabs and 16-seater shuttles have been requisitioned by Quick Response Teams and various observers.
As the first phase of voting approaches, several bus unions have posted notices informing passengers of service suspensions. For instance, Route 78/1 has announced a halt in operations until April 23 and again from April 27 to 29. Other affected routes include 259 and approximately 50% of Route 45.
Titu Saha from City Suburban City Service explained, "Most buses were requisitioned on April 20 and April 25, with a focus on south Kolkata and Beleghata-Sealdah areas. Around 600 buses have been taken, covering routes such as 223, 45, and 240."
Commuters Share Their Struggles
Residents have expressed frustration over the reduced services. Swapan Dutta, a Khardah resident, said, "It was a nightmare. I waited for 25 minutes to board a bus from Ultadanga Station to Maniktala. I should have gone to Sealdah instead."
Averi Chatterjee, traveling from Behala to Esplanade, missed an office meeting due to the lack of available buses. "By the time I found an auto and reached the Metro station, I had wasted all my time," she lamented.
App Cab Shortage and Fare Hikes
Those relying on app cabs face similar challenges. Typically, around 25,000 app cabs operate in Kolkata, but this number has plummeted to approximately 7,000. While many vehicles have been requisitioned by the Election Commission and police, others have been intentionally garaged by owners fearing requisition.
Indranil Banerjee, general secretary of the West Bengal Online Cab Operators' Guild, noted that the situation is unlikely to normalize until after May 4. "This disappearance stems from fear of being requisitioned. If fare rates were improved, owners and drivers would not hide their cars in advance," he stated.
The shortage has led to a sharp increase in cab fares. For example, an air-conditioned cab ride from Bhowanipore to Prince Anwar Shah (4.7 km) now costs over Rs 300, up from the usual Rs 250-260. Pritam Saha shared, "I tried booking a cab from Amherst Street to Hazra at 4:30 PM, and the app showed Rs 400. Even then, it couldn't allocate a vehicle for about 20 minutes."
Impact on Two-Wheeler Taxis
The fare hikes extend to two-wheeler taxis as well. Jetchun Doma Sherpa, a Presidency University student, reported that costs have risen by Rs 20-25 for trips from the College Street campus to their hostel in Salt Lake. "What used to cost Rs 80 a few days ago now costs around Rs 100-125. Similar increases have occurred on routes like College Street to Azadgarh in Tollygunge," Jetchun explained.
The transport disruptions highlight the broader impact of election logistics on daily life in Kolkata, with commuters bearing the brunt of longer waits and higher costs.
