To restrain auto drivers' high-handedness, additional buses to ply on same routes

Kolkata: The state Transport department will run additional buses from Ultadanga to Sector V to curb the high-handedness of auto drivers and facilitate passengers visiting the IT hub without hassle.

Altogether around 26 buses, both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned, will ply from Ultadanga, Chingrighata and will go to New Town, Eco Space and Sector V respectively. A notification in this regard has been issued by the Transport department and sent to the respective bus depots.

The fare of the buses has not yet been fixed. The buses will operate from 6 am to 7.30 pm from Monday. Senior officials felt that the introduction of these buses in the auto route will reduce the arrogance and high-handedness of the auto drivers. The buses will ply every five minutes during the peak office hours and every 10 minutes during the lean period.

Welcoming the move, the commuters who visit Sector V daily said it would resolve their long-standing problem.

The commuters alleged that the auto drivers often charge more, particularly during inclement weather and after sundown. Often they refuse to go without any rhyme or reason as well.

Sumita Sen, an IT engineer, said: "We face problems when the autos refuse to come to Ultadanga from Sector V after sunset. They not only charge more but women passengers feel insecure as many of the auto drivers are drunk most of the time and misbehave, asking them to get down from the vehicle in the middle of the road. After the day's work, we are so tired that we do not mind paying extra money but such misbehavior on the part of auto drivers is absolutely unacceptable."

It may be mentioned that around a week ago, the auto drivers at Ultadanga had called a wildcat strike causing great inconvenience to the passengers.