Bengal CM urged to extend bus deadline from 15 years

India

-Krishna Kripa

Updated: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 11:06 PM (IST)

Bus owners in West Bengal have asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene with the state transport department. They are asking for a two-year extension for 15-year-old buses, rather than being forced to scrap them. Tapan Banerjee, secretary of the Joint Council of the Bus Union, mentioned that the Calcutta High Court suggested discussions between the operators and the government to address this issue in a humane manner.

In October, owners of buses plying on specific routes approached the high court. They requested a two-year extension to the 15-year-old age limit on buses. Without this extension, 90% of buses in Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly will be off the roads by January 2025. This was highlighted by Tapan Banerjee.

Impact on the bus fleet

The number of private buses and minibuses has decreased significantly since pre-Covid times. From around 9,000 vehicles before the pandemic, the numbers fell to 3,000-3,500 in 2022. In August, only 600-700 remained after the 15-year deadline was met. This decline has raised concerns among operators about the future availability of public transportation.

Pradip Narayan Bose, spokesperson of West Bengal Private Bus and Minibus Owners Association, expressed confidence in Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s pro-people stance. He is hopeful that the current crisis affecting many bus operators and commuters will be resolved.

Legal Framework

A 2009 order of the Calcutta High Court mandates that commercial passenger vehicles older than 15 years cannot ply in the Kolkata metropolitan region. This area includes central Kolkata and its surrounding neighborhoods, as well as Howrah. The application of this rule has caused a drastic reduction in the number of buses available.

The bus owners’ petition highlights their fight to maintain operations under current regulations. They are seeking a temporary respite to continue serving travelers while exploring long-term solutions with the government.

The situation highlights the challenges public transport operators face in balancing regulatory compliance with service continuity. The outcome of these discussions could significantly affect the availability of public transport in West Bengal.