Get Ready For Chaos

Action at last? Or an elaborate eyewash?

The transport department plans to do in 5 days what they have not been able to do for years. Removing 2553 buses, 573 mini buses and 6357 taxis within 5 days to meet the 31st July deadline. The transport department had a full year (July 18th, 2008 - High Court sets the deadline) to act.

The transport minister is a master tactician. He has refused to act tough with the bus, taxi and auto unions in earlier occasions. This must be a ploy to create chaos in the city and suburbs, thereby asking the court for more and more time.

Both the taxi and bus unions have already announced strikes. Taxis will go off the streets from 22nd July and bus and mini bus operators have threatened to follow suit from 23rd July. This will result in 10000 buses, 1000 mini buses and 42000 taxis going off the road.

Other tough measure lined up are;
Doing away with the commission system, wherein the driver steps on the gas to pack in as many trips per day to get about 11%-12% commission of sale.
Introducing speed limiters on all commercial vehicles.
Doing away with re-threaded tyres for public transport vehicles.

Time will tell if the ministers white hat has turned into a reformists hat or this is another hat-trick. Calcuttans sick with the governments inaction in every sphere will surely face a lot of trouble and hardship commuting those chaotic days hoping this brings in a greener future.

This might me one of the last tests by which people will be judging Buddha and his teams resolve. Lets hope this is an exception from all the other ones he has messed up.

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