Red, Blue, Now Saffron: How Kolkata's Buses Have Changed With Every New Government

Last Updated:July 07, 2026, 14:30 IST

Every change in government has brought a fresh coat of paint to Kolkata's buses. Here's how the city's public transport has become an unexpected reflection of Bengal's politics

Kolkata News: With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) taking charge in West Bengal, Kolkata’s streets are witnessing another symbolic transformation. Painters have begun replacing the Trinamool Congress‘ signature blue-and-white colour scheme with yellow-and-white on public infrastructure, while the state’s buses are also getting a fresh look.

The latest change marks yet another chapter in the evolution of Bengal’s public transport, where the colours of government buses have often reflected the political party in power.

From Red To Blue And Now Saffron

During the Left Front era, government buses were predominantly painted red, a colour long associated with Left politics.

When the Trinamool Congress (TMC) came to power in 2011, the fleet gradually adopted the now-familiar blue-and-white livery. Although blue is not the party’s official colour, the combination became synonymous with the Trinamool government’s 15 years in office and extended to bridges, government buildings, railings and other public infrastructure across the state.

Now, under the BJP government, state-run buses are being repainted saffron, a colour widely associated with the party.

The Change Is Already Visible

The transition became noticeable last week when newly introduced government-operated AC buses on the AC-58 route between Sonarpur and Eco Space in New Town hit the roads in saffron instead of the familiar blue-and-white, as reported by The Times Of India. A day later, a newly launched private bus service connecting Ghatakpur in South 24 Parganas with Santragachhi in Howrah also began operating in a matching saffron-and-white colour scheme.

The makeover is extending beyond buses. Workshops of the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) and the South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) have reportedly begun repainting vehicles, while even the digital watermark on commuter e-tickets has changed from blue to saffron.

Beyond Buses, Kolkata’s Skyline Has Changed With Every Political Era

The changing colours of Bengal’s buses are only one part of a much larger visual transformation that has unfolded over the past few decades. Successive governments have repeatedly left their mark on Kolkata’s public infrastructure, turning everything from flyovers and bridges to lane dividers, railings and government buildings into symbols of a new political era.

During the Left Front years, government buses largely carried a red colour scheme associated with Left politics, while much of the city’s civic infrastructure retained neutral concrete finishes or conventional road-safety colours.

That changed dramatically after the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011. Under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kolkata underwent a sweeping makeover as flyovers, bridges, traffic railings, lane dividers, police kiosks, parks, government offices and even some trams were repainted in the now-famous blue-and-white palette. The government reportedly described the initiative as an urban beautification drive inspired by giving Kolkata a distinct visual identity, similar to Jaipur’s ‘Pink City’. Over time, however, the colour combination became closely associated with the Trinamool government itself. Reports also noted that civic agencies spent crores repainting public infrastructure, including flyovers, bridges and road dividers, with the exercise occasionally drawing criticism from the Opposition.

Now, with the BJP in power, another transformation is underway. Along with state-run buses adopting a saffron colour scheme, workers have begun repainting road barricades, flyovers, lane dividers and other civic infrastructure from blue-and-white to yellow-and-white. The new government says the move aligns with internationally recognised road-safety colours and reflects a broader effort to modernise the city’s appearance, while critics view it as another instance of political branding through public infrastructure.

Government Calls It A Modern Identity

State Transport Minister Arjun Singh defended the move, saying the colour change reflects the government’s vision for modern public transport. “A city’s transport network must evolve with time. Saffron not only represents the dynamic double-engine regime, it symbolises modernisation and an eco-friendly shift in mobility. This is a progressive rebranding designed to give Kolkata a clean, modern transit identity," he said.

However, transport department officials maintained that no formal policy decision has yet been taken to permanently change the transport department’s colour scheme.

Commuters Say Service Matters More Than Colour

The repainting exercise has also triggered criticism from transport experts and commuters, many of whom argue that visual changes should not overshadow long-standing operational challenges.

Transport union leader Tapan Das said every new government tends to use public transport as a political symbol. “Every new regime treats the transport fleet like a billboard for its political brand. But changing the colour from blue to saffron does nothing to address the severe shortage of drivers and maintenance staff," he said.

A daily commuter echoed similar concerns. According to him, repainting buses will do little for commuters if services remain infrequent. He said strengthening the fleet would have a far greater impact than changing the colour scheme.

A Debate Beyond Politics

The TOI report quoted an IT Professional Aniket Banerjee who believes the latest colour change could have value if it signals broader improvements rather than remaining a political statement. He noted that red buses once defined Kolkata, while the blue-and-white era coincided with the expansion of AC buses. If the saffron colour scheme comes to represent the beginning of a cleaner, CNG-powered fleet, he said, the rebranding could be seen as a step forward rather than merely another political makeover.

As Kolkata’s buses once again change colour, the debate continues over whether the transformation represents genuine progress, or simply another shift in political symbolism.

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