Kolkata’s private bus operators have asked the state government and Kolkata Police to reduce accumulated traffic fines, warning that mounting penalties could push more buses off the city’s roads even as police cite widespread violations and propose mandatory driver training.
The dispute has emerged around multiple e-challans issued against individual buses. City Suburban Bus Service, Bus Minibus Sammanay Samiti and Joint Council of Bus Syndicate alleged that traffic police sometimes issue more than one e-challan to the same bus in a day, including for minor technical violations and without sufficiently clear photo or video evidence.
The operators cited the case of a KB-16 bus operating between Bangur Avenue and Shapoorji. The vehicle, registered as WB 25M 3005, has accumulated about Rs 3 lakh in traffic fines since it began operating in June 2025, according to the report. A KB-24 bus running between Hatisala and Kolkata Station, registered as WB07W3618, has accumulated about Rs 1.4 lakh in fines over eight months.
Bus owners said unpaid penalties prevent them from renewing permits, paying taxes and obtaining fitness certificates, creating a compliance bottleneck that can keep vehicles out of service. They also objected to penalties being attached to vehicle registration numbers rather than to the drivers accused of committing the violations. The operators argued that owners remain liable even when hired drivers are responsible for the alleged offences.
Police, however, pointed to recurring violations by private buses. An active bus reportedly has between 100 and 250 pending cases on average, including reckless overtaking, racing for passengers, signal violations and stopping in the middle of the road to pick up or drop passengers. Police said mid-road stopping contributes to 28% of bus accidents in Kolkata.
Titu Saha of City Suburban Bus Service said fare revisions alone would not resolve the sector’s financial crisis and urged the government to limit what operators described as unnecessary cases and penalties. The unions had earlier sought a waiver of fines linked to fitness certificates, taxes and permit renewals until May 4. In return, they offered to clear pending documentation, pay future taxes, follow traffic regulations and bring buses currently off the road back into operation.
The transport department and Kolkata Police are examining possible changes. Police have proposed mandatory training for drivers who violate traffic rules, while transport minister Arjun Singh has proposed a 40% waiver on accumulated fines and penalties for private buses and minibuses. Operators have also sought payment of dues for buses requisitioned during elections and uniform compensation rates. Discussions between bus unions and government officials are continuing.
