The inter-state bus services in Jharkhand rolled off on Sunday after nearly eight months to a lukewarm response. The state government on March 25, had suspended bus services due to a spike in Covid cases and introduction of lockdown necessitated to check the spread of the virus.
Sunday being the first day of resumption of inter-state bus services after eight months, only 25 per cent buses started operations. As the State Government has removed the barrier of one passenger in two seats, most bus operators have not increased bus fare.
However, the bus operators are not happy with the state government removing the one passenger two seats restrictions, as most of them feel that the new directive will lead to spread of infections.
Jharkhand Bus Owner Association, secretary, Kishore Mantri said, “ As the state government has lifted the restrictions of one passenger in two seats, we are left with no other alternative but to give seats to all passengers. Running buses with full capacity will only lead to spread of infections as no social distancing norms will be followed.”
Mantri also said, “As social distancing norms have gone for a toss after the government new restrictions, the drivers, conductors and helpers are sceptical of spread of infections.”
However, the bus operators are following all precautions in operations of bus services. Buses are sanitized after every trip, bus operators have to provide masks to those passengers reaching the bus stand without masks, passengers entry will be made only after they are thermally scanned.
The bus operators on the directions of the State transport department have also fixed the fare. The fare from Ranchi to Patna in non AC bus is Rs 350-400, while on sleeper the fare is Rs 500. The fare on AC buses is Rs 500-600 from Ranchi to Patna. Similarly, the bus fare from Ranchi to Jashpur on non AC buses is Rs 200. The bus fare to Kolkata too is Rs 500-600.
The bus operators have also revised the bus fare within the state. The fare from Ranchi to Gumla is Rs 110, Simdega is Rs 180, Lohardaga is Rs 90, Kurru is 70, Dhanbad is Rs 200, Bokaro is 160, Chatra is Rs 190 among others.
Krishna Mohan Singh, member of Bus Owner Association and owner of Chandralok bus service said, “Based on government directives we have not increased the fare of bus services. But in such a situation it will be a tough time for us to start bus services.’
Elaborating the problem, Singh claimed that though the government has removed all the restrictions there is a drop in passengers count.
“In the next two three days we will know the actual pictures, as Chaath and Diwali is approaching there will be an increase in passengers count in the next two weeks as people use bus services for going Bihar, but we don’t know the pictures after the festival,” added Singh. Singh’s remark assumes importance as on Sunday only 25 per cent buses started operations.
However, it is the passengers who are much happy with the start of bus services. KC Gupta, a resident of Ratu Road area said, “We are happy that the government has started bus services. Every year we celebrate the Chhath festival in our native village in Ara. Now bus services have started, we can easily go to our native village.”