Daily commuters in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal are likely to face severe disruption starting Thursday, as private bus and minibus operators remain firm on their decision to launch a three-day statewide strike. Despite a last-minute intervention by the Transport Department, no breakthrough was achieved to defer or call off the protest.
Government’s Appeal Falls Flat
On Tuesday, Transport Department Secretary Soumitra Mohan convened a crucial meeting with representatives of private bus operators to persuade them to reconsider the strike. Citing potential public inconvenience, Mohan urged stakeholders to explore alternative means of expressing their concerns. However, the talks ended inconclusively, with bus operators refusing to budge from their stand.
A separate video conference was also held by the police later in the day, inviting bus operators for further discussion, but that too failed to yield any consensus.
Key Issues Behind the Stir
The bus operators claim the strike is a response to long-standing grievances, particularly the alleged “targeted levying” of hefty traffic fines and the state government’s “inaction” on allowing the replacement of 15-year-old vehicles.
Surojit Saha, Vice President of the Bengal Bus Syndicate, voiced strong criticism of the current enforcement practices. “We are being issued at least three to four challans every day, with fines as high as Rs 10,000 for negligence and Rs 4,000 for speeding. This is unsustainable for our operations,” he said.
He further added that the issue has been raised repeatedly in earlier meetings with the administration but no concrete steps have been taken to address their concerns.
Mounting Financial Pressure
Highlighting the financial strain faced by private bus owners, Saha explained that the average daily revenue per bus stands at around Rs 1,800, excluding expenses related to fuel, maintenance, and the increasingly burdensome penalties.
With no resolution in sight, private bus operators are also planning road blockades in addition to the strike, intensifying fears of massive transport disruption in urban and suburban areas across the state.
Commuters Caught in the Crossfire
As the strike looms, thousands of daily passengers, particularly office-goers and students, are expected to bear the brunt of the transport shutdown. With private buses forming a significant portion of Kolkata’s public transport network, the city is likely to witness overcrowding on government buses, trains, and app-based cab services.
Transport authorities have not yet announced any alternative arrangements to mitigate the crisis, leaving commuters anxiously preparing for three days of travel chaos.
