Suspension of Garia auto ops to Golpark, Tolly & Patuli leaves commuters in lurch
Times of India | 7 July 2024
Kolkata: Auto commuters from large areas of south Kolkata were left in the lurch after three routes connecting Garia to Golpark, Tollygunge and Patuli stopped operations from Garia on Saturday. The auto operators blamed the internal strife within the union for the same. Till late Saturday evening, services were yet to be completely normalized.
With operations either shut or operating partially — and with a section of drivers cutting short their routes for profit maximization — passengers had to either opt for battery rickshaws paying four times the actual fares or forced to hop on to overcrowded buses.
The worst affected were commuters between Golpark and Garia. “Even as the operators are claiming to stop operations to Garia, they continued operating till Baghajatin. They travelled to Jadavpur from Golpark and then again from Jadavpur to Baghajatin. They charged Rs 14 in the first stage and Rs 10 in the next. I ended up paying Rs 24 for a trip that actually costs Rs 18,” said Samar Bhattacharya, a resident of Baghajatin.
Those trying to reach Naktala from Garia did take the Metro but the rickshaws took advantage of the situation. “A trip on an e-rickshaw to my home in Bansdroni from Garia usually costs me Rs 10. On Saturday, it was Rs 40,” said Sangita Nag.
“There were fewer buses and I am afraid of boarding crowded buses. But there were no autos at Garia. I had to hire a taxi,” said Anamika Saha, a lab assistant at Golpark.
Like Anamika, 70-year-old Ranjan Mukherjee had trouble returning from Golpark to Garia after visiting an ailing relative. He also had to board a crowded bus. Commuters heaved a sigh of relief after autos resumed services around 12 noon.
Several Kolkatans who had no inkling about the suspension of services suffered as they waited on the road in vain for hours.
“I waited for 30 minutes at Naktala. Then I heard a bus conductor saying: ‘Chole ashun, auto bondho ache (Come along, auto services are suspended)’,” said Sukti Ghosh, who was heading to Behala on Saturday.