More than 900 buses in the state have been taken off from the roads to be used in election duty for lok Sabha creating pressure on the few buses that are still plying. Despite this, the administration has decided not to call buses from other States. Commuters will be forced to travel in hellish conditions until the end of April.
On the orders of Election Commission, the state government has ordered acquisition of buses for lok Sabha elections from the second week of March. More than 900 buses from all over the state have been acquired by the government in less than a month.
The few buses that are plying in the state are running jam-packed and are overflowing with passengers. A large number of people from surrounding district of the state opt for daily commuting to their work places in Raipur. They have complained that the buses are running extremely overcrowded. However, the higher officials in the transport department have said that the ‘situation is under control’.
“In a 40 seater bus, we are carrying more than 60 passengers and it will get worst in weekends,” said Mushtaq Ansari, conductor of a bus. Women and elderly are suffering the most. “There are no reserved seats for women and we have to travel under the constant threat of getting molested,” said Garima Tiwari, who lives in Bhilai and studies in Raipur.
“We had acquired greater number of buses during the Assembly elections in November but this time the situation is under control. We will not arrange for buses from other states as they too have elections,” said Deputy Commissioner (transport) D Ravishankar.
More buses will be acquired in the coming days affecting the frequency of buses of every route. Buses of all sizes, jeeps and trucks are being acquired for the polls and are expected to return in the last week of April after the elections.