Buses and app cabs requisitioned for West Bengal poll duty, commuters left in the lurch

KOLKATA: If you are commuting within the city using public transport, it is wise that you keep time in hand. Contrary to the belief that public transport will be hit before the city votes in the second phase of Assembly elections on April 29, several buses and app cabs have disappeared even before the first phase of elections scheduled across the state on April 23.

Transporters claimed that buses and app cabs have been taken for election purposes by the administration, with some buses travelling all the way to Midnapore and Murshidabad. While the buses will be used to transport security personnel and polling booth staff, the smaller app cabs — and even the 16-seater shuttles — have been requisitioned by Quick Response Teams and multiple levels of observers.



As the first phase of voting approaches, various bus unions put up notices informing commuters of suspension of services. Route 78/1 has announced suspension of services till April 23 and then again between April 27-29. Among other routes being shut are 259 and 50% of route 45.

"Most buses were requisitioned on April 20 and April 25. The maximum buses cater to south Kolkata and Beleghata-Sealdah. Around 600 buses have been requisitioned. These routes include 223, 45 and 240 among others," said Titu Saha from City Suburban City Service.

"It was a nightmare. I waited for 25 minutes to board a bus towards Maniktala from Ultadanga Station. It would have been better if I had gone to Sealdah instead," said Swapan Dutta, a resident of Khardah.

Averi Chatterjee, travelling to Esplanade from Behala, said that she could not attend her office meeting after being unable to board the few available packed buses. "By the time I got an auto and reached the Metro station, I had wasted all my time," she said.

Those trying to hail a cab faced similar challenges. On a usual day there are around 25,000 app cabs running in the city. At present the number came down to 7,000. While a chunk has been requisitioned by the EC and police, many others have allegedly garaged their cars in the fear of being picked up by EC.

Some of these commercial vehicles were requisitioned nearly a month back. General secretary of the West Bengal Online Cab Operators' Guild Indranil Banerjee said that the situation will only normalise after May 4. "This disappearance of vehicles also comes from fear of being requisitioned. If rates are improved, owners and drivers will not garage their cars from before," he said.

The disappearing app cabs from city roads during poll time have resulted in a significant increase in fare. Air-conditioned cabs from Bhowanipore to Prince Anwar Shah, which is 4.7 km, cost over Rs 300. Usual cost ranges from Rs 250-260. "I wanted to book a cab from Amherst Street to Hazra around 4.30 pm. It showed Rs 400 on the app. Even then, the app could not allocate a vehicle for around 20 minutes," said Pritam Saha.

The same has an effect on the fare of two-wheeler taxis. Jetchun Doma Sherpa, a student of Presidency University, said that the costs have increased by Rs 20-25 from the university campus at College Street to their hostel in Salt Lake. "What cost Rs 80 just a few days back is now costing around Rs 100-125. Some hike has also taken place in the College Street to Tollygunge's Azadgarh side," Jetchun said.
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