Yo-yo auto fare adds to Kolkata commuters’ woes – Times of India

Kolkata: Rising fare is burning a hole in the pockets of auto passengers. While travelling to office from Baguiati to Ultadanga, they pay around Rs 20. However, after sundown, charges for the same route back from office is Rs 25. In fact, before the restrictions, the same route operators were charging Rs 15. The situation is the same across Kolkata. Towards north, from BK Pal-Central Avenue to Burrabazar, an auto passenger pays Rs 15 in the morning and Rs 20 in the evening. Similarly, in central Kolkata, a trip to Park Circus from Esplanade post 8 pm will cost Rs 30. In the morning, one can complete this trip for Rs 15. It is the same in south Kolkata, a journey from Rashbehari to Behala costs Rs 25 in the morning and Rs 35-40 in the evening. The fares before the restrictions stood at Rs 20.
Kushan Dey, who travels from Kestopur to Sovabazar, said, he is worried that fares will rise further if bus operations do not begin soon. “In the evening autos plying between Ultadanga and Sovabazar have no fixed rate. They all want to maximise profits,” he said. Tathagata Mukherjee, a Behala Chowrasta resident, said, “On certain days, and as we approach the 9 pm deadline, fares touch Rs 50,” said Mukherjee.
The auto unions dismiss these incidents as stray ones. “A few operators might be bucking the trend. We have only asked passengers to share the fares equally. In most places flying autos indulge in malpractices,” said an INTTUC leader from South Kolkata who refused to come on record. Auto union leaders Gopal Sutar and Meghnad Poddar either did not pick up repeated calls or refused to speak. “In noon, we are not even getting two passengers,” rued an operator from the Dharmatala-Lohapool route.