Poor response to bus services in Punjab

Poor response to bus services in Punjab

Ferozepur, May 20, 2020:  During the lockdown 4.0, the lack of patronage by passengers was seen despite allowing to ply of buses on certain routes within the state from 7 am to 7 pm.  The lack of patronage by passengers came as a rude shock to bus operators as they preferred to stay off from travelling immediately after lifting of the curfew.

Thousands of people in big cities and in hundreds in small cities travel on buses on as a daily basis or for some personal and business work.  In Ferozepur, the buses for certain routes were parked at the counters but due to one or two passengers, they could not move.

We have the instructions to allow to board passengers 50 percent of the capacity of bus but with only two passengers since morning even waiting for three hours, said Jaswinder Singh conductor of the bus meant for Ferozepur-Faridkot route.

In case we move with one or two passengers, the government will be under utter loss.  In fact, the people have not yet come out of the threat of coronavirus despite curfew has been lifted and movement during the lockdown 4.0 has been allowed, he added.

Depot Incharge said, during this curfew-lockdown period, the people have become very conscious and I feel, they will move only in the event of any emergency or some government employees who too are daily commuters or those working in private firms in sales.

Even if the buses are run with half the capacity with 25 passengers, the government or private owners will not be able to recover even the minimum expenses.  The other alternative is the tax should be exempted by the government or may be allowed to charge a double fare.

A private bus owner said it is impossible for the bus operators to survive in the present situation without the government support.