: After the Bahanaga Bazar train tragedy, while the normal running of trains on the SE railway lines was badly hit, the commuters travelling by buses are facing a tough time to move to different destinations within the State even though the rail works are almost restored.
On the one hand, the commuters are not getting seats in the buses which are going to Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and on the other, they are being charged exorbitant fares. More so, the overcrowded buses are playing in unsafe conditions, it is alleged.
After the June 2 deadliest train accidents the train movement between Baleswar to Bhadrak was completely stalled for a few days due to the rescue and restoration works of the tracks and signaling system. After restoration works, although train movement has been restored, several trains are still regulated. As many as over 25 trains were either cancelled or short terminated due to the the maintenance works at Bahanaga station.
Raja being an important festival of Odisha the people generally return to their homes . As the train service is affected most of the passengers are bound to travel in the buses. Several passengers complained that they were charged heavily and had to travel standing without seats in overcrowded conditions in the extreme heat and humid conditions.
Although the State Government has directed the bus owners to display the distance and fare chart yet hardly any buses follow the guidelines, it is alleged.
It is also alleged that the enforcement agencies, although are aware of such irregularities in the bus services yet no action has been taken by them to curb exploitation of passengers.