Will EC pay for our commute on bike-ban days, ask citizens

Kolkata: Confusion and frustration are mounting across the city after EC's abrupt restrictions on motorcycle movement ahead and on the poll day, with many residents questioning how they will manage daily commutes."Will the EC pay for our commute?" asked Amit Chatterjee, a medical representative from Garia who relies entirely on his bike. Others, like Kausik Sengupta of Shyampukur, wondered whether the order effectively imposes a partial curfew on movement.Nearly 24 hours after EC appeared to soften its stance — clarifying that the curbs were aimed at preventing the movement of "toughs and miscreants" rather than restricting ordinary citizens — confusion still persists.On Wednesday, the issue reached the Calcutta High Court, where a petition challenged the restrictions, arguing that two-wheelers are the most preferred mode of transport for office-goers. The matter was mentioned before a single bench of Justice Krishna Rao and is likely to be heard on Thursday. The petition also highlighted the dependence of the gig economy on motorcycles, particularly for food delivery and quick commerce services. The EC has, however, stated that such services will remain exempt.Kolkata Police, issuing guidelines based on the chief electoral officer's directive, posted details on social media, prompting a flood of queries. Residents sought clarity on how exemptions would work."I run a hotel and use a bike daily. Will commuting to my hotel count as office work?" asked one resident online. Another questioned whether routine tasks like going to the market would qualify as essential movement and whether there would be a mechanism to report arbitrary stops at police checkpoints.Similar concerns reached TOI. "How do I travel 26 km to Sector V from Tollygunge?" asked one commuter, pointing out that buses and app cabs are already stretched due to poll duty.According to the notification issued by CEO Manoj Agarwal, bike movement is prohibited across 152 Assembly constituencies in 16 districts during specified hours in the run-up to polling. Kolkata will see similar restrictions from April 27. The order exempts essential services, including police, central forces, poll staff, app-based bike services, delivery platforms, e-commerce operations and office-goers carrying valid ID.