Raiganj, Oct. 2 -- Two buses of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) are likely to start operating from Dalkhola in North Dinajpur district to Siliguri and Raiganj before Durga Puja, bringing relief to residents who have long faced difficulties in accessing direct bus services. A team of NBSTC officials along with Biraj Biswas, Minister of State for Law and Karandighi MLA, recently visited Dalkhola. He assured local residents that the services would be introduced before the festive season. The announcement has brought cheer among residents and local business communities.
Biswas said: "One bus would travel to Siliguri via Kanki, Kishanganj, Islampur and Chopra, while the other would operate to Raiganj via Domahana, Karandighi and Tungidighi. Each bus would make two trips a day."
According to local residents, bus services to Dalkhola town were disrupted after a bypass road along National Highway 12 was constructed around four years ago. Both government and private buses subsequently stopped entering the town, forcing passengers to travel to other locations to board buses to Siliguri and Raiganj.
The absence of direct services has particularly affected traders and businessmen who frequently travel to the two towns for commercial purposes. Residents have repeatedly demanded the introduction of this service.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.