Sajal Ghosh alleges autos in North 24 Pgs use bus-truck number plates, demands statewide probe

BJP leader and Kolkata Municipal Corporation councillor Sajal Ghosh has alleged that several autos operating in the Baranagar area are running with registration numbers assigned to buses, trucks, and other goods vehicles. In a recent post, he shared photographs of autos displaying number plates and screenshots of transport department records which, according to him, show mismatches between the registered vehicle type and the actual vehicle.

Ghosh stated that such autos operate between Sinthi More and Kamarhati, covering key parts of the Baranagar Vidhan Sabha constituency. He claimed that the registration numbers displayed on some autos are officially linked to vehicles such as Volvos, lorries, and mini trucks. “Compare the motor vehicle details with the number plate,” he wrote, while also cautioning about insurance complications in case of an accident.

He alleged that these autos are controlled by individuals he described as “anti-social elements” affiliated with the ruling Trinamool Congress. According to him, poor auto drivers are forced to pay ₹12 to ₹15 lakh per vehicle in order to run services on specific routes in the area. “These poor (all are not thieves) drivers are being extorted,” Ghosh wrote, demanding an investigation into the matter.

In the same post, he further added that such practices could be prevalent in other parts of the state and urged for a comprehensive inquiry. He wrote, “If a probe is conducted, similar cases will be found in other regions, where thousands of illegal vehicles are operating using political flags.” Ghosh also commented on the issue of fare hikes, stating that despite the Chief Minister's statement against fare increases, private buses have continued to raise fares independently.

Attempts to reach Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty were unsuccessful. However, a senior official from the transport department stated that they have taken note of the issue after being alerted and have directed the concerned RTOs and officers to investigate the matter. The department has not released any formal findings or official statement regarding the investigation’s outcome as of now.