Guwahati: A sharp rise in outbound travel triggered chaos in key areas of the city on Wednesday, leaving many passengers struggling to secure a ride back to their respective districts. The sudden rush sparked frustration amid steep fare hikes, as many raced against time to cast their votes.The NH-27 stretch from Khanapara to Jalukbari witnessed chaotic scenes, as voters formed long queues and overcrowded the area, waiting for hours for inter-district buses that largely failed to arrive. The crunch worsened as many of these buses had been reserved for election duties, forcing travellers to turn to private vehicles and shared taxis, often at inflated fares.Akash Das, a voter from Nagaon district who works in Guwahati, said he had been waiting along the Jorabat stretch for over an hour without finding any transport. “I have not found any buses so far. I have to go to Samaguri village to cast my vote. There are no buses, and the taxis that are running are charging between Rs 600 and Rs 1,000. Earlier, the usual fare was Rs 300.”In the Basistha area, stranded passengers alleged that the situation was particularly hard on students and daily wage earners. Divyanshu Das, a student heading to Kaziranga, said, “We have no option but to pay. I will be casting my vote for the first time. The driver has asked me to pay Rs 800 — usually it is between Rs 300 and Rs 400.”The situation was no different in Jalukbari, from where vehicles depart towards lower Assam. With regular transport unavailable, many passengers resorted to pickup tempos and trucks to make their way home.However, drivers and transport operators defended the fare hike, citing rising operational costs and increased workload. Many said they were making multiple trips in a day to meet the surge in demand.“I am travelling to Hojai, and along the way I have to pass through several toll gates. Coupled with rising petrol costs, my total expense will come close to Rs 3,000. Even after bearing these costs, we still need to earn something,” said Hafisul Ahmed, a cab driver.Authorities have yet to make any formal intervention on fare regulation during the election rush. Officials from the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district administration and the transport department have not commented on the situation.The situation highlights a recurring challenge during election periods in Assam, where large-scale movement of people puts immense pressure on transport infrastructure.
