PUBLIC TRANSPORT HARASSMENT IN KOLKATA ON ELECTION DAY

By Swarnali Goswami (TNI Kolkata)  |  Edited By D. Prasun (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Kolkata, 1^st May, 2016: The six phases of assembly election ended more or less in Kolkata yesterday. As expected, most of the vehicles were off the road because of the election duty. Hence, it created harassment to the general public who had to do their daily chores. The emergency services like hospitals were obviously not closed. So the brunt of the almost zero traffic landed on those relatives and patient parties, who either had to take the patients to the hospitals or stay beside their dear ones in the hospitals. In such a situation the high-handedness of the metered autos and taxis increased their rates. Our TNI Correspondents and other media personnel also faced some similar situations in Kolkata. Taxis and No Refusal taxis went on denying passengers at various places of Kolkata like Park Street, Golpark, Dhakuria, Ultadanga more etc. One such no-refusal taxi had the registration number WB 04G 1913. In the single Election Day, the auto charges were doubled by the auto drivers. Daily commuter Mr. Dipak Chawla talked to TNI “I am waiting here (Golpark) for one hour, but no taxis are agreeing to go Jodhpur Park.”  However, maximum harassment faced by commuters and feeble voices never reaches the administration while Kolkata votes.

Photo Courtesy: AFT/Getty Images