Kolkata Commuters Grapple with Transport Shortages Ahead of Assembly Elections
Commuters in Kolkata are facing significant disruptions in public transport services as the city prepares for the second phase of Assembly elections on April 29. Contrary to expectations that transport would be affected only closer to voting day, buses and app cabs have already started disappearing from the roads well before the first phase of elections scheduled across West Bengal on April 23.
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
The shortage has led to frustrating experiences for daily travelers. Swapan Dutta, a resident of Khardah, recounted, "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, who was 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 said.
App Cab Shortage and Fare Surge
The situation is equally dire for app-based cab services. Typically, around 25,000 app cabs operate in Kolkata, but this number has plummeted to approximately 7,000. While many have been requisitioned by the Election Commission and police, others have been garaged by owners fearing requisition.
Indranil Banerjee, general secretary of the West Bengal Online Cab Operators' Guild, noted that the shortage stems partly from this fear. "If rates are improved, owners and drivers will not garage their cars preemptively. The situation is expected to normalize only after May 4."
The reduced availability has caused a sharp increase in 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. The app showed Rs 400, but it couldn't allocate a vehicle for about 20 minutes."
Impact on Two-Wheeler Taxis
The fare hikes have extended to two-wheeler taxis as well. Jetchun Doma Sherpa, a Presidency University student, reported that costs from the College Street campus to their Salt Lake hostel have risen by Rs 20-25. "What used to cost Rs 80 a few days ago now costs around Rs 100-125. Similar increases are seen on routes like College Street to Azadgarh in Tollygunge," Jetchun said.
This transport crisis highlights the broader challenges faced by Kolkata residents during election periods, with disruptions expected to persist until the polling process concludes.
