Bengal govt in bind over fare hike as transport bodies renew strike threat

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee now may have to initiate 'unpopular'reform in the state transport sector

After pulling the plug on UPA government opposing Centre's recent reforms initiatives, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee now may have to initiate “unpopular” reform in the state transport sector.

After several transport bodies in West Bengal resorted to indefinite strike last week demanding fare hike following increase in diesel price, West Bengal government somehow managed to break the deadlock temporarily with a fare-hike bait.

But as the three weeks deadline set by the state government for revision of fare is nearing, West Bengal transport minister Madan Mitra has now dismissed any assurances of fare hike reaffirming government "populist" stand. 

After a meeting with state government on last Wednesday, Sadhan Das of Joint Council of Bus Syndicate said, the “indefinite strike” was postponed for three weeks, following assurances of "fare hike" by the state government. Incidentally, state transport minister Madan Mitra was silent on the "promise" after the meeting.

"I would like to categorically say that it was decided in the meeting we will sympathetically consider transport owners' demand. A joint committee will be formed with both representatives from bus owners' and state transport department. There was no assurances of fare hike as such," Mitra said.

Predictably, the transport bodies have also reverted  back.  “The state government has to increase the bus fares with immediate effect because if it is not increased most of the buses will stop plying. Already several buses have stopped plying. If the state government does not allow fare hike, we have no other option other but to continue this indefinite strike,”  Sadhan Das of Joint Council of Bus Syndicate said.

Bengal taxi association and Kolkata taxi drivers association too had earlier called of their strike following promise from government, and now state government allegedly making a U-turn on fare hike, they have also declared a shut down of services in coming days. Other transport bodies, like that of luxury taxi association and minibus associations  are also expected to make similar announcements in the next few days, if the demands are not met.

As a temporary arrangement, state government is plying about 10000 more buses on road. However, crisis is far from over with both the government and transport bodies hardening their stand.