Kolkata people to face bumpy ride this new year as 4000 buses to go off roads
Commuters in Kolkata are going to face a bumpy ride as around 4000 buses to go off the roads after completing 15 years of service
Kolkata: The commuters in Kolkata are going to face a bumpy ride this new year 2024 as around 4000 buses to go off the roads after completing 15 years of service.
According to four regional transport offices (RTO’s) in Kolkata, it is seen there has been a steady decline in the registration of the news buses.
The State transport department reveals there has been drop in the registration of the new buses since the financial year 2015-16.
Here is the data of the new bus registrations:
In the year (2015-16): 409
2016-17: 168
2017-18: 285
2018-19: 231
2019-20: 128
2020-21: 81
2021-22: 67
46 till December 25.
As reported by Indian Express, the General secretary of the Joint Council of bus syndicates, bus operators association Tapan Banerjee,“After 2014-15, diesel prices started increasing and touched Rs 100 eventually. It almost doubled during this time. The prices of spare parts of buses also went up. The state government should understand that buses will not run on water. If bus fares do not increase, how will we make a profit? In the last 10 years, the state government did not allow us to increase the fares. This sector is nearly ruined in Bengal.”
He added, “After the Supreme Court order in 2009, all buses aged more than 15 years were phased out. More than 4,000 buses will be scrapped the next year as they will complete 15 years. If bus fares are not increased, these buses will not be replaced with new ones. As a result, the commuters will bear the brunt.”
Ms Kalinga