Private taxi operators, as well as some private vehicles, are charging people very high fares amid the ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 and the curfew.

Public transport is at a standstill and some private vehicles have started to take advantage of the situation by surging fares.

Samrat Saikia, who was in a medical emergency and needed to travel from Khanapara to a private hospital near Jalukbari, said he had to pay Rs 150 to a local share taxi.

“As it was an emergency, I paid the amount asked for after a heated argument with the driver. On normal days, the fare is just Rs 20 to Rs 30,” he added.

A teacher, Masrura Sultana, was travelling with three of her colleagues and they were charged Rs 2,000 per head from here to Nagaon.

She said, “People have started to take advantage of the situation. When we travel to and from Nagaon, the buses charge us Rs 120 to Rs 150 only. No private taxis ply on that route on a regular basis. Even when a private taxi operates on that route, it hardly charges Rs 500 per head.”