Kolkata faces acute bus shortage as cold and Gangasagar mela reduce services

Kolkata and its suburbs are witnessing a sharp decline in government and private buses, causing daily commuters considerable inconvenience. The number of buses operating in the city has dropped from an average of 3,500 to around 2,700–2,800 due to multiple factors.

Authorities and bus owners cite severe cold, deployment of buses for the upcoming Gangasagar Mela, and the ongoing SIR voter list process as key reasons behind the shortage. Private bus organizations also mention that special events and police restrictions have affected regular services.

Titu Saha, leader of City Suburban Bus Services, said, “Cold weather discourages drivers and conductors from running buses in the evening, and weekend police pressures further reduce services.” He added that buses temporarily hired for events in Hooghly last week also contributed to the shortfall.

Rahul Chatterjee, General Secretary of the West Bengal Bus-Minibus Coordination Committee, said the SIR process prevents many rural drivers and conductors from operating private buses in the city, further worsening the situation.

State Transport Minister Dilip Mondal assured commuters that alternative arrangements are being made to maintain services, stating, “Our primary goal is to ensure public service without disruption, and the department is actively working on it.”