App-cab stir leads to surge fares, afternoon transport pain in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Commuters had a tough time on Friday with drivers of buses and even app cabs affiliated to Left unions going on strike with a demand for a fare hike that coincided with a strike call by a section of state government employees demanding immediate release of dearness allowance.
While buses have been scarce over the week due to Dol and Holi on Tuesday and Wednesday, the crisis persisted on Friday as drivers of buses and cabs did not report to work. This led to a spike in demand for cabs that resulted in a fare surge even in the afternoon, usually a lean period when fares are low.
A commuter, who regularly travels from New Town to Southern Avenue around 3pm and pays a fare of Rs 330-370, had to cough up Rs 580 on Friday. Another commuter who travels from Brahmapur near Garia to Esplanade around 5pm for Rs 270-Rs 340 had to pay a fare of Rs 460 on Friday.
Fares were steep even in the morning. A commuter who travels from Lake Town to Park Street around 11.30am and usually pays Rs 200 had to shell out Rs 300 on Friday.
The transport crisis meant even metered cabs that refuse to go by the meter and demand a lump-sum fare asked for Rs 100 more than what they usually charge.
"The strike by some app-cab operators left a demand-supply gap in the afternoon causing a fare surge that was nearly twice the usual fare," said an app cab operator.
Sk Manu, secretary of CITU affiliated Ola-Uber App-Cab Operators' and Drivers' Union said, "We were forced to do this chakka jam as the aggregators refused to fulfil our demand of flat Rs 25 per km. Otherwise, we are all incurring losses."
"A lot of operators, who don't belong to our union, joined the strike. This is why 90% of the cabs went off the road. So, a handful of cabs that were on the road enjoyed surge fares," said Manu.