Kolkata: The era of Kolkata’s iconic double-door private buses might finally be drawing to a close, as one of the city’s most famous routes, L-238, rapidly transitions its fleet to single-door vehicles.Known among daily commuters as the “VIP King” for its dominating presence on the Barasat–Howrah route, L-238 was the last remaining bastion of private transport operating with the traditional two-door setup.Over the past month, bus owners have begun modifying the fleet to cope with mounting operational costs and severe revenue leakage.Out of the 48 buses operating on the route, nearly 30 have already been converted to single-door configurations (or new ones replacing the older ones), with owners citing the need for structural efficiency as ageing buses complete their mandatory 15-year lifecycle.The move marks the end of a long-standing conflict between route operators and labour union on this route over crew deployment. Historically, two-door buses required two conductors to monitor separate entry and exit points. However, operators argued that dual doors led to employing two conductors instead of one. They also argue that the new body structure of private buses does not support a two-door system as operators will be forced to cut down the number of seats for passengers.“With two doors, it was wastage of resources,” said a senior member of the L-238 Bus Owners’ Association. “Transitioning to a single door allows one conductor to strictly control entry, issue tickets systematically, and prevent ticketless travel,” he added.The operational shift has also restructured the commission model for crew members. Previously, two-door operations allocated a combined 24% of daily ticket sales to the crew. Under the new single-door system, payouts have been recalibrated, with drivers earning a 14% to 15% commission while the sole conductor receives 8% to 9%.The decision has elicited mixed responses from daily commuters who have frequented the route for years. “The double-door buses were a lifesaver during office hours because you could get in and out quickly,” said Subhashish Chowdhury, a daily commuter from Madhyamgram. “Now, with a single door for both boarding and alighting, getting off at busy halts like Ultadanga or Kankurgachi has become a claustrophobic ordeal.”Transport enthusiasts and urban historians view the transition as a bittersweet milestone in Kolkata’s public transport narrative.“The L-238 route is legendary not just for its frequency or its overall average speed, but for preserving the classic double-door layout that defined Kolkata’s commuter culture for decades,” said Aniket Banerjee, General Secretary of the bus lovers’ group, Kolkata Bus-O-Pedia.“While we understand the financial pressures and operational challenges bus owners face today regarding fare evasion and staff overheads and stand with them on multiple issues, watching the bus route lose its traditional identity feels like losing another living piece of the city’s transit heritage,” said Banerjee.With fleet modernisation mandated for ageing vehicles, operators confirm that remaining two-door buses on the route will be phased out gradually, rendering the single-door model the new standard across the metropolis.
