Siliguri, Sept. 4 -- Rail connectivity between North Bengal and South Bengal has been disrupted following a landslide on the railway tracks near New Farakka station. With several trains cancelled due to the disruption, a large number of passengers travelling from North Bengal to Kolkata and other parts of South Bengal are now opting for bus services as an alternative.
As a result, passenger demand for buses from Siliguri to Kolkata has increased significantly since Thursday evening. Several buses have been filling up quickly, leaving passengers struggling to secure tickets at the last moment. To deal with the situation, the state government has introduced additional bus services. On Friday evening, additional North Bengal State Transport Association (NBSTC) buses bound for Kolkata were launched from the Tenzing Norgay Bus Terminus in Siliguri. State Tourism minister Shankar Ghosh was present at the launch.
"After discussing the matter with the state Transport Minister, arrangements have been made for additional buses for the convenience of passengers. In the first phase, 40 additional buses have been kept ready," Ghosh said.
Meanwhile, the administration has asked private bus operators to keep another 20 buses ready, which will be deployed according to demand.
However, passengers have alleged that some private buses are charging higher fares amid the increased demand. Normally, fares for non-AC buses on the Siliguri-Kolkata route range from around Rs. 600 to Rs. 1,000, while AC bus fares generally range between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000. Passengers claim that fares have increased considerably at present.
On Friday, administrative officials also held a meeting with private bus owners at the State Guest House, during which the administration asked private operators to ensure that fares remain regulated.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.