Bus for Hussainiwala evokes poor response
Ferozepur, July 6, 2017: It is hardly one month back when district administration had initiated a plan for the visitors who come to pay obeisance at Hussainiwala Martyrs Memorial – Retreat Ceremony – lowering of flags of India and Pakistan at Joint Check Post at sun-set and had started a special bus for the tourists and local visitors. But the district administration’s initiative has failed to attract the people and the border residents as well as the local visitors are opting for their personal vehicle to visit the memorial and to see the retreat ceremony.
As per information available, there are hardly any takers for this bus and most of the bus starts its journey without any passenger, even from the other end Hussainiwala also.
One of the employees belonging to Punjab roadways, on the condition of anonymity said that the entire exercise has been proved futile as there are no takers for this bus. “Bhaji jihne jana apni gaddi wich jana, koi kyu jayega eni garmi wich dhakke khanda hoya”, said Purshottam Kumar, a shopkeeper.
Earlier, the bus was started from Ferozepur cantonment bus stand but it had received a very poor response. Later, the starting point was changed from Ferozepur cantonment area to Multani Gate, near border road but nothing changed and hardly any passenger boarded this bus.
“There are few people who use this bus but not to watch retreat ceremony or to visit Hussainiwala memorial. They use this bus only because their destination comes on the way to Hussainiwala”, said a woman.
It is pertinent to mention here that to cover the distance of around 30 kilometers, the Punjab roadways is spending around Rs. 1000 per day but the earnings are zero.
