Shuttle buses roll into auto void, commuters welcome ‘reliable’ rides
Times of India | 31 March 2026
Kolkata: Several shuttle buses and mini-buses, run through dedicated app services and privately from point to point, are now opting to cover major auto zones in order to cater to a larger pool of passengers. By diverting into high-density auto routes, shuttle services are attempting to bridge a widening gap in the city's last-mile connectivity, transport experts said.
Most of these shuttle buses, whether coming from Howrah or from Behala-Sarsuna, have been preferring to use either Park Circus or the Gariahat and Kasba connectors in the past two weeks, avoiding the option of Park Street-Victoria Memorial, which cops are offering them as an option. Similarly, the Joka routes are going via Tollygunge Metro-Haridevpur.
Sources said that the decision is well thought out despite these routes taking 30-45 minutes of additional time compared to the traditional Park Street option.
"The operational costs are now on the higher side. With no access to Maa-AJC Bose Road flyovers, the fuel costs have climbed up, too. So has our travel time, making it difficult to offer an additional trip. We are, therefore, not getting full-capacity passengers while returning from Sector V in the evening or even while going towards Sector V in the morning. With auto services hit, we are getting a few bookings from the Gariahat-Kasba belt, which are compensating us," said Shankar Dutta, a shuttle bus driver.
For the record, the past several months saw Kolkata Traffic Police not allowing these shuttle vehicles to use either Gariahat connector or the Park Circus connector. They had earlier stopped these vehicles from accessing Maa and AJC Bose Road flyovers as well.
Traffic experts suggested that while the Park Street-Victoria Memorial route offered by the police is geographically shorter, it lacks the "passenger density" required to make trips viable.
In contrast, the Gariahat and Kasba belts — traditionally dominated by autos — provide a steady stream of stranded commuters looking for more comfortable or reliable alternatives.
However, this "encroachment" on traditional auto routes has raised concerns regarding potential turf wars between auto unions and private shuttle operators.
Kolkata Traffic Police is reportedly monitoring the situation closely, as the influx of larger vehicles into already congested connectors could lead to further gridlock during peak hours.
For the thousands of IT employees and daily commuters heading towards Sector V and New Town, the detour means a longer commute. Yet, for many, the availability of a guaranteed seat on a shuttle bus outweighs the uncertainty of shorter, more restricted routes. "It is taking longer, but there is nothing that we can do about it," said Sayantan Banerjee, a commuter from Behala.