The lowest fare for a seat in Mother Homes, Uttarbanga, Nibedika, Apon Angina and Syntex was Rs 8,500, while the highest was Rs 13,500. Additionally, all hostels charge a service charge ranging from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000.
Amir Hussain, spokesperson of Nibedika Girls Hostel, said the students will have to pay from December to book spots and also pay for the hostel’s meal plan.
“Those who are coming are paying from December as we will not rent seats from January. We know that the exam will not end till December and students will start living from January but they still have to pay rent for December because this is our system.
When asked why it was mandatory to buy a meal plan, he replied: “It’s a package system so you have to pay for it.”
The condition of almost all the hostels in this area is same or similar. This trade policy is not kept as a secret but is out in the open.
The government has not set up any authority to oversee the business practices of these hostels. It is common knowledge that Farmgate is a major student-living centre, but there is no official data on how many students live in the area year-round or move there after their HSC exams.
A spokesperson of the University Coaching Center says that every year at least 20,000 students from all over the country come to this field after the HSC exam.
Tezgaon police station chief Apoorvo Hasan said that around 40,000 students stay in the private hostel in the Tezgaon industrial area throughout the year and he feels that the hostel owners do not charge exorbitant rent from the students.
“Sometimes, some people talk about it like it’s a problem, but the truth is they [the hostel owners] Do business for three months in a year. It is only a seasonal matter. After three months, the students no longer live there, but the hostel owners must continue to pay rent for those vacant apartments. So, in my opinion, the fare is fair.”