KOLKATA: Kakoli Ghosh, a salesperson in an apparel shop in
Esplanade
, did not manage to board a government bus to return home in Sinthee on Thursday evening. Fewer taxis that were available asked for exorbitant fares. As a last resort, she had to hop on to a small
goods vehicle
along with 15 others which ferried her till Shyambazar for Rs 30.
Ashish Biswas hopped on to a cycle van in
Mullickbazar
along with four others to reach his residence in Taltala. He paid a fare of Rs 50.
Kolkatans used various modes of transport to reach their destinations in the absence of adequate number of buses and auto-rickshaws. According to regular passengers, government buses were getting filled up to capacity at their starting points only making it impossible for anybody to get up from anywhere in between.
“We are left with no other option but to board goods vehicles along with several other people to reach our workplaces in the morning and back home in the evening. Even they are charging a lot but it is still affordable compared to yellow taxis which are asking for an extra Rs 100 to Rs 150,” said Kakoli Ghosh.
The state government withdrew some restrictions allowing buses to ply from July 1 carrying 50% of their passenger load. While government buses started ferrying passengers, private buses stayed off the roads over demands of fare hike. Auto rickshaws and taxis ripped off commuters sensing huge demand.
“Our employers have made attendance mandatory from July 1. They do not want to understand that the situation outside is not at all conducive. We are paving way for the third wave in the way we are commuting,” said Mohammad Akram, a vendor in Canning Street. Cops had to intervene when people waiting for buses spilled on the road along several points on CR Avenue, Chandni, Esplanade, Dalhousie, Lenin Sarani and S N Banerjee Road.