The distance to the destination is the same. However, there is a vast difference in vehicle fares. Currently, during the peak tourist season, train tickets from Kolkata to NJP or Siliguri are almost unavailable. Taking advantage of this situation, bus ticket prices from Kolkata to Siliguri have become sky-high. In comparison, fares for travelling from Siliguri to Kolkata have not increased much.
Central government employee Arnab Pramanik travelled by bus from Kolkata on Friday and reached Siliguri on Saturday. He said, "A few days ago, I had to go to Kolkata for urgent work. On the return journey, I couldn't get a train ticket by any means. I was forced to buy a bus ticket for 2,500 rupees."
Manas Roy, a resident of Belgharia, had almost the same experience. Manas works in sales at a readymade garments company. He has to visit Siliguri along with various other places in the state almost every month. He came to Siliguri a few days ago. According to Manas, "I had to buy a ticket for 3,200 rupees to come from Kolkata to Siliguri. However, returning to Kolkata cost 950 rupees."
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Naturally, questions are being raised about this disparity. Tourism business operators have informed that during the tourist season, a large portion of passengers heading to the hills and Dooars come from Kolkata to Siliguri almost at the same time. As a result, demand for tickets to NJP or Siliguri increases. This leads to fare hikes. However, for return journeys, tourists' timings and routes become different. Almost all tourists take trains from Howrah or Sealdah when coming. But when returning, they take trains from different routes. Many prefer to take flights when returning.
Again, tourists from other states prefer to avoid the Kolkata route when returning. For this reason, demand for tickets from Siliguri to Kolkata remains comparatively low. This tourist season, private bus fares have increased two to three times in some cases. While government bus fares remain limited, the number of buses is also limited. As a result, many people are not getting tickets there either. Currently, the regular bus fare on the Siliguri-Kolkata route is slightly less than 500 rupees. Non-AC Volvo costs 950, and Volvo AC bus tickets are available for 1,350 rupees. On the other hand, to travel from Siliguri to Kolkata by private bus, ticket prices range from 600 to 2,000 rupees. In some cases, even more. However, passengers report that coming from Kolkata to Siliguri for less than 2,000 rupees is almost impossible. This has not only caused problems for regular passengers but is also damaging tourism.
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Raj Basu, convener of the Association for Conservation and Tourism, said, "When fares suddenly increase to such an extent, it has a negative impact on the tourism sector. We have repeatedly told the state and central governments to curb fares. Just as there is an MRP (Maximum Retail Price) for any commodity, let that be fixed for vehicle fares as well."
Tourism businessman Samrat Sanyal said, "When there are no passengers, buses are run even at a loss. For that reason, let the government create a policy to fix minimum and maximum fares." Tourism authorities did not want to comment on this matter.
