Election duty set to knock more buses off Kolkata roads

Kolkata: A looming public transport crisis is set to grip Kolkata from Monday as large-scale requisitioning of buses for election duty threatens to cripple the city's already strained mobility network. With the Election Commission of India ramping up preparations for the 2026 assembly elections, more than half of the city's bus fleet is being diverted to ferry Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel and polling staff.

The impact is already visible. Commuters across the city report unusually long waiting times, overcrowded buses, and near disappearance of services on several routes. Transport officials estimate that over 400 STU buses are already off the roads for not being roadworthy.



"From Monday, the situation will worsen. Training for poll personnel is in full swing, and buses are being deployed continuously for ferrying CAPF personnel," said a senior official of the state transport dept. "We are trying to balance essential services, but election duty is a priority."

Bus operators say the scale of requisition is unprecedented. "More than half of the fleet has already been taken for poll duty, mostly for transporting CAPF personnel," said Titu Saha, secretary of the City Suburban Bus Services. "Police alone have requisitioned around 1,600 buses, while RTOs have taken another 400."

He alleged that the process has been chaotic and poorly coordinated. "Buses are being picked up without prior notice, sometimes directly from the road. Passengers are being asked to get down midway so that buses can be sent to distant districts, even north Bengal," Saha said.

Operators warn that the situation has created a massive vacuum in the city's transport system. "There are hardly any buses on many routes now. If this continues, public transport will collapse," he added.

The Joint Council of Bus Syndicates has termed the early requisitioning "unethical". It has written to transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty and secretary Saumitra Mohan, urging authorities to coordinate with bus owners instead of seizing vehicles from the roads. "Authorities should communicate with route committees," said Tapan Banerjee, secretary of the council. He also pointed out that the issue of remuneration for buses on poll duty remains unresolved.

For daily commuters, the disruption has translated into both inconvenience and rising costs. "I waited nearly 40 minutes for a bus today, and when it came, it was packed beyond capacity," said Anindita Ghosh, a teacher in south Kolkata.

Another commuter, Rajesh Shaw, who travels from Howrah to central Kolkata, said, "There are barely any buses during peak hours now. We are forced to depend on autos or taxis, which is not an affordable option."

Transport officials acknowledged the strain but defended the move as necessary for ensuring peaceful elections. "A record number of CAPF personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order. Transport logistics are critical, and requisitioning vehicles is part of that process," an official said.

With over 3,000 buses typically serving the city, the sudden withdrawal of a large portion of the fleet is expected to severely disrupt daily life.