A protest by over a hundred auto-rickshaw and other vehicle drivers led to a traffic jam on the EM Bypass during the office hours. This caused immense suffering of the commuters and motorists. After several hours of obstruction, normal traffic resumed. The protesters claimed that they were not receiving CNG at the pumps.
They stood in queue for a long time, causing disruption. Concurrently, they faced allegations of police brutality. On Monday morning, a multitude of autos gathered at Ruby More, blocking various routes and crossings. CNG-operated four-wheeled vehicles also joined them. Approximately 250 autos lined up on the bypass, affecting all buses and taxi movement.
The drivers demonstrated in front of the police, alleging police misconduct. Daily commuters faced hardships due to the obstruction. The news reached Kasba and Anandapur police stations. The police arrived at the scene and faced the wrath of the protesting drivers. The drivers claimed that CNG was unavailable at all pumps in Kolkata. Only a few pumps had gas, and long queues followed. It took a long time to fill up with gas due to the extended queues. However, waiting on the road for an extended period also posed risks.
They auto drivers claimed that police intervened and imposed fines when they stood in long queues. However, after some negotiation with the police, the protesters lifted the obstruction from EM Bypass. However, this disruption, on the first day of the week, was an ordeal for ordinary people. Many had to sit in buses for a long time. Alongside this, parents worried about the secondary exams on Monday. Despite the concerns, the situation normalized after several hours