Red, blue, saffron: Buses in Bengal show changing colours of politics

Kolkata's government buses are undergoing a significant colour change, shifting from blue-and-white to saffron, a move the transport minister attributes to modernization and a "dynamic double-engine regime." This rebranding extends to e-tickets, with officials maintaining it's not a formal policy shift. However, critics argue cosmetic changes distract from critical issues like driver shortages and declining fleet strength, with commuters prioritizing reliability over political symbolism.

By DWAIPAYAN GHOSH AND KRISHNENDU BANDYOPADHYAY