Inter-district bus services was started across West Bengal on Wednesday. According to the state transport department officials, the buses have started operating on fewer routes than earlier, in less numbers and with limited numberof passengers.
The services are being provided while maintaining social distancing norms and drivers and bus conductors adhering to all the prescribed health safety measures. The buses are running mostly along the clear zones demarcation all over the state and are strictly avoiding containment zones. [Check the containment and buffer zones in all the districts in the state here ]
South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC), which used to run nearly 730 buses in 357 routes, is now providing services only in only 83 routes. The prominent among them connects Kolkata with Suri, Asansol, Digha, Jhargram, Midnapore and Burdwan among others. Buses are also operating from Durgapur and Asansol.
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North Bengal Stare Transport Corporation (NBSTC), which on the other hand used to run nearly 600 buses across 200 routes in the state, is now operating in only a little over 100 routes. Prominent among them include bus services from Siliguri, Maldah, Berhampore and Balurghat to Kolkata. Other routes include Coochbehar to Dinhata, Tufangunj, Mathabhanga, Alipurduar.
West Bengal State Transport Corporation (WBSTC) has also announced that the number of routes are being increased from 15 to 40 in Kolkata and adjoining areas. These include Tollygung-Madhyamgram, Tollygunj-Karunamoyee-New Town, BBD Bagh-Mandirtala, Ghola-Howrah, Barackpore-Howrah, Park Circus-Dankuni, Rajabazar-Nabanna, Barasat-Joka, Ultadanga-Sapoorji, Howrah Station-Ballygunj, Howrah-Jadavpur, Parnasree-New Town, Garia-Howrah, Dunlop-Howrah, Baghbajar-Garia, Barackpore-Karunamoyee among others.
Although the state government has already permitted the private bus owners to start services, they have refused to resume services without a hike in passenger fare. Taxis have already started plying in Kolkata and adjoining areas. More taxis will be out on the streets as soon the drivers who left for their homes start returning, an official said.
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