The inter-state bus services in Jharkhand which started a week back after nearly eight months to a lukewarm response is witnessing a spike in passengers’ footfall due to festive season. Most of the inter-state buses going to Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha are running with full seats capacity.
A week back bus operators in Jharkhand resumed inter-state bus services after the transport department issued necessary directives, most of the buses were running with half the actual capacity. But, due to Diwali and Chhath festivals most buses are running with full capacity. Bus operators claimed that around 200 inter-state buses originating from Ranchi bus stands for Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha out of which seats in most of the buses are full. As buses are running with full capacity it has brought smiles on the face of drivers, conductors and helpers with hopes that travel and tour business will boom once again.
Suresh Patel, a conductor at Chandralok Travels said, “We are getting half the salary, but now as the bus service has resumed and most of the buses are running with full capacity we are hoping that we will get full salaries.” Patel also claimed that as bus services were suspended for more than eight months the staff didn’t exert pressure on bus owners for payment of full salaries.
As footfall of passengers has increased most of the bus operators have reduced the fare going back to original fare. The fare from Ranchi to Patna in non AC bus is Rs 450 while in AC bus it is Rs 550.
Krishna Mohan Singh, member of Bus Owner Association and owner of Chandralok bus service said, “We have decided to revive original fare as we are witnessing an increase in passengers in the past few days.” Singh claimed that such a rush will be there for next week too owing to Chhath festival.