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Time of India

Buses on Kolkata's route 39 go off road after threat from autos

1 2 Kolkata: Commuters faced severe disruption on Friday morning as the fleet of 60 buses on route 39 and 18 on 39A/2 went off the road following a clash with auto-rickshaw drivers near Lohapool on Rifle Range Road in Park Circus. Traffic was hit for about 30 minutes. The standoff stemmed from a long-standing dispute over route permissions, leaving office-goers stranded and forced to spend extra money on alternate transport. The confrontation began around 9.45 am when auto drivers affiliated with the South Kolkata District Auto Driver Operators Union blocked buses at the Lohapool stop near Adi Ballygunge Vidyalaya under Karaya Police Station. The auto drivers allegedly forced buses to offload passengers and return to the Picnic Garden terminus, demanding that they stick to their original routes via Tiljala (Route 39) and Bhojerhat (39A/2). According to sources, the bus and the auto operators are supposed to join a meeting at the office of the transport directorate at Beltala on Monday to discuss a possible solution. "Bus routes are much older than the auto routes. We never objected when the autos snatched away the lion's share of our passengers. They should have approached the RTO instead of taking the law into their own hands. We already approached the RTO. Hopefully, by tomorrow, the issue will be resolved," said Titu Saha, secretary of City Suburban Bus Service. Iqbal Ahmed, a resident of Colony Bazar, said, "With buses not available, I took two autos to reach my shop at Chandni Market. While the bus fare is Rs 15, I forked up Rs 40 for a break journey in two autos." The auto operators alleged that the bus operators had been deviating from the routes, against which the transport department issued them permits, for the last five years. The 39 bus service is 61 years old, and its original route to Babughat is via Tiljala, 4 No Bridge, Dargah Road, and SN Banerjee Road. Much later, two more bus services like 39A/2 and 39A branched out. While the route of 39A/2 towards Howrah is via Topsia, Bhojerhat, and Mahatma Gandhi Road, the now-defunct 39A used to ply to Salt Lake via Science City. Since 2014, when the work of Maa flyover was underway, the 39 and 39A/2 buses rejigged their routes via Rifle Range Road and Biresh Guha Street and did not return to the old route, citing a lesser number of passengers. Subal Das, conductor of a 39A/2 bus, said, "The auto drivers have been threatening us for the last few months. It is not feasible for us to run the service on the old route. Now we get around 50% of our passengers from the Rifle Range Road and Park Circus Connector. Until the issue is resolved, our bus service will not be at the wheel." Around 450 autos ply from Lohapool to Orient Row near Beniapukur and Esplanade. Md Jahir, a member of the auto union, said, "The buses halt on the road, looking out for passengers and causes traffic snarls on Rifle Range Road. We want the transport department to look into the matter and ask the buses to ply on their old routes, against which their permits were issued." The minibuses on the Picnic Garden-Howrah route have been plying through Ballygunge Phanri since last week. Apu Pal, secretary of Picnic Garden Howrah Minibus Workers' Union, said, "Our original route was via Tiljala, but we switched to Rifle Range Road. The auto operators created disturbances, compelling us to ply via Ballygunge Phanri. We brought the matter to the notice of the transport department." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !