Kolkata: With the Supreme Court refusing to grant interim stay on the Calcutta High Court order directing their phase out, the West Bengal government on Tuesday said the drive against 15-year-old commercial vehicles would continue in the metropolis.
Transport Secretary Sumantra Chowdhury said, "The police have been asked to carry on the drive against the banned vehicles, since the apex court has refused to grant interim stay."
Admitting that the people would face difficulty for some more days in the absence of a large number of vehicles, he said currently 7,000 out of 10,000 buses, 24,000 out of 30,000 taxis and 11,000 out of 30,000 autorickshaws were running in the Kolkata Metropolitan Development area which also comprises the adjoining districts.
He said in Kolkata, temporary arrangements have been made to run more buses and minibuses. Though 1200 buses and minibuses ran daily, the figure has been increased to 1500, Chowdhury said.
He said 500 chartered buses would be acquired till August 21 for operations in the next three months.
Members of the Contract Carriages Association met him during the day, Chowdhury said, adding the state government did not receive any application seeking replacement of banned vehicles.
He was speaking to reporters after submitting a detailed review report of the situation to Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
The next date of hearing in the Supreme Court will be held on August 10.
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