Even bus owners scared, highlight driver scarcity in Kolkata
Times of India | 6 December 2025
Kolkata: Bus operators have expressed concern over scarcity of skilled bus drivers in the city at a time when multiple accidents, involving buses, have been reported since the beginning of Dec.
The scenario, as claimed by at least two bus operators' union at a meeting with Kolkata Police on Friday, is alarming as new BS VI buses have started coming to the city. They urged the govt to take up initiatives for training bus drivers.
"Not many are interested in driving buses as the returns for app cabs or autorickshaws are higher. Some are taking up agricultural work. We once had bus drivers migrating from other states. But, now that number has dwindled to almost nill. When we have even 40 buses on a route, at least seven to eight buses are not operating each day due to lack of staff. Even govt drivers are being taken away from our pool. The state must take responsibility. We have raised this issue during the meeting," said Tapan Banerjee of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicate.
According to Titu Saha of the City Suburban Bus Service, many among the existing drivers, were faced with age-related challenges, particularly eyesight, and around 20 conductors and drivers were retiring from their jobs every month. "We have approached govt to help us train the drivers and create a common pool for recruitment. We will help the govt in this regard," said Saha.
A recent report from the transport department highlights the dramatic decline in the number of individuals seeking to become bus drivers. In the past year, fewer than 50 people applied for a bus driver's license across the state, a stark contrast to the 800 to 1,200 applications that were common just a few years ago. This sharp drop indicates that youngsters are increasingly turning to other professions.
The reasons behind this aversion are largely economic. Bus drivers, particularly those in the private sector, lament that the profession no longer offers a stable or lucrative income. While govt bus drivers receive a meagre fixed salary, private bus drivers' earnings are directly tied to the number of passengers they carry. With passenger numbers dwindling, their income has become highly unstable and insufficient to make a living, driving them away from the profession.
"The commission system worked when alternative transport was meagre in the city. But now, with alternative transport being preferred, the app bike being the biggest disruptor, we are unable to see profits post-Covid," said a bus worker from the 18A/C/D union.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Traffic Police has warned bus owners and drivers to ensure they do not drop passengers in the middle of the road following the spate of accidents. While the bus driver and the conductor will be prosecuted if they drop off passengers in such an errant manner, auto operators trying to squeeze through from the extreme left when passengers are deboarding from buses are also liable to face action.
"While sessions with bus drivers are common, the auto drivers are amongst the most notorious lot against whom we receive the maximum number of complaints. Hence, the idea to hold a session with the auto drivers will be included," said a senior cop, who addressed these operators. "The conductor has to play the dual role of a helper. We tried harping on this point," added the senior officer.