By Nava Thakuria*
Guwahati: Dismayed over erratic city bus service in the virtual capital of northeast India, a forum of local intelligentsia urged the State government to ensure reliable transportation service covering all important routes till at least 11 pm (if not late night hours) so that the Guwahatians, who are still deprived of local & metro train service, can enjoy the rides with no uncertainties.
“When the Assam government recently bought several CNG and electricity-operated city buses, why the State transport department cannot ensure timely service after dusk? The law & order situation has already improved and there should not be any trepidation in operating the government city buses on all routes till midnight hours,” said the Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA), adding that the concerned department must not show interest in buying vehicles only.
Those should run on the roads for the benefit of common citizens as the commuters may not afford private vehicles for their movements, asserted the PPFA, adding that for any reason new buses should not be subscribed to showcase (the failure of concerned authorities !) in ISBT Guwahati for months now. The forum raised a question who will finally pay for the mismanagement?
“As Guwahati has seemingly emerged as a major city in the far eastern part of India and hoping to connect many south Asian nations, it must be active in night hours too. Moreover, thousands of local people nowadays work in various commercial establishments including shopping malls, restaurants, hospitals and others till midnight and they need the service. Once the decent service is assured, the commuters will be able to plan their evening works accordingly,” added the PPFA statement.
The forum appealed to State Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (who recently flagged off 100 compressed natural gas operated and another 100 electric buses) to intervene over the matter. It also requested CMO to engage some informers at various points like Sankardev Kalakshetra, Kahilipara, Ganeshguri (towards Chandamri), Narengi, Hatigaon, Jalukbari after 7 pm to get the real picture of the city bus service in Guwahati and take appropriate initiatives as well.
*Senior journalist
