KOLKATA: Costlier diesel elbowed out ‘60% of private buses’ from roads, crippling the public transport in the city and other parts of the state. The number of cabs has also dropped significantly, forcing people to opt for auto or bike-cabs, which in turn pushed up the commuting expense four to five times the bus fares.
Diesel price in Kolkata is all set to cross a century mark. When the government announced lockdown in March 2020, the diesel price was Rs 64.65 a litre.
Lower frequency of buses is leaving commuters in the lurch in the city even when the offices are opening on Monday. Buses have limited their trips to barely two in a day with owners saying that the sales of tickets remain below Rs 5,000 (one km now costs Rs 52 as compared to Rs 39 in 2018 when the fare was last revised), lower than the operating cost. Several bus operators want to transfer to profitable routes.
