Driver pool at clubs for safe ride home this party season in Kolkata – Times of India

Kolkata News
KOLKATA: Following frequent police crackdown on drink-driving, premier city clubs are looking for an alternative to make the Christmas and New Year celebrations a safe and successful one.
Some of the clubs like Calcutta Rowing Club and Calcutta Club are readying a drivers’ pool. The members can book a driver from the pool if he or she is in self-drive mode. The driver will then drop the member at the residence against a fee.

Some other clubs like Tolly Club, Eastern Metropolitan Club, RCGC will take a call on this issue soon.

TimesView

This is a good move. Ensuring a safe drive home at a little extra cost is being smart; taking the wheels after a couple of drinks is not. Everyone should behave responsibly so that the festival season is not tinged with a tragedy.

A prominent member of many city clubs pointed out that the footfall during weekends in many clubs has gone southwards due to the police action against drink-driving. General secretary of Calcutta Rowing Club, Chandan Roy Choudhury, said, “We were looking for a solution and hopefully it will be a great relief for members. The clampdown on drink-driving has gone up substantially. This will be really beneficial for senior members.”
CRC has issued notice to members, saying that a driver service with pick-up and drop or drop facility between 7pm and 1am will be available within 6km distance from the club. The charges will vary from Rs 300 to Rs 500.
President of Calcutta Club, Pramit Kumar Ray, said that it’s planning to introduce drivers’ pool not only for New Year’s eve but for all days. “Not only for New Year or any other special day, we will have the system in place on all days. We have got this proposal from some of our members,” he added.
One of the members of the premier club, Tapas Chakraborty, who had proposed the drivers’ pool, pointed out that the plan was to have the pool all days after 9pm. “There’s a drop in alcohol consumption at the club due to crackdown fear,” he added.
CEO of Tolly Club, Anil Mukherjee, said that they were also thinking on the same lines. “I will discuss it with the committee,” he added.
Secretary of Eastern Metropolitan Club, Sanjib Ghosh, also said that it was giving a thought to it. “We are planning something but members have to book drivers one day in advance,” he added.
Some other clubs like Lake Club, Outram Club have not yet taken any call on this issue but they, too, are talking to their respective members on this.

Source: https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijgFodHRwczovL3RpbWVzb2ZpbmRpYS5pbmRpYXRpbWVzLmNvbS9jaXR5L2tvbGthdGEvZHJpdmVyLXBvb2wtYXQtY2x1YnMtZm9yLXNhZmUtcmlkZS1ob21lLXRoaXMtcGFydHktc2Vhc29uLWluLWtvbGthdGEvYXJ0aWNsZXNob3cvOTYzODQ2NTguY21z0gGJAWh0dHBzOi8vbS50aW1lc29maW5kaWEuY29tL2NpdHkva29sa2F0YS9kcml2ZXItcG9vbC1hdC1jbHVicy1mb3Itc2FmZS1yaWRlLWhvbWUtdGhpcy1wYXJ0eS1zZWFzb24taW4ta29sa2F0YS9hbXBfYXJ0aWNsZXNob3cvOTYzODQ2NTguY21z?oc=5