Cooch Behar, June 9 -- State Minister (Independent Charge) Malti Rava Roy on Tuesday initiated efforts to revive the long-defunct Jorai depot of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) in Tufanganj, raising hopes among residents who have long demanded the restoration of government bus services.
During her visit to the depot, located in Cooch Behar district, the minister inspected the premises and interacted with residents to assess the condition of the transport facility and the difficulties faced by commuters.
Spread across several bighas of land, the Jorai depot was once a major transport hub in the region. Equipped with essential infrastructure, including a fuel station, the depot served as a key point for bus services connecting Kolkata and several destinations across North Bengal. However, operations have gradually declined over the years, leaving the facility largely inactive.
At present, only a handful of buses operate from the depot during the morning hours, while the rest of the day it remains virtually deserted. Residents alleged that the suspension of regular government bus services has caused significant inconvenience to commuters, students, and daily passengers.
Roy assured residents that the government was committed to reviving the facility and improving public transport connectivity in the area. "I will raise the matter in the Assembly and take the necessary steps to ensure the depot is reopened at the earliest," she said.
Local resident Sintu Das welcomed the initiative, saying that bus services on several routes, including Kolkata-bound services, had gradually been discontinued over the years. He expressed hope that regular services would soon be restored.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.