The buses which were started with much pomp and show by the Jharkhand Tourism Department Corporation (JTDC) for the tourists of Jharkhand have been shut down as it has failed to attract the sufficient number of tourists. Sources revealed that the buses were not able to meet even its fuel expenses so the department finally decided to call off the services.
JTDC Managing Director (MD) Sunil Kumar last year on July 14 inaugurated the service. There were two 30 seated non- AC buses for two designated routes. One for Deori, Surya temples and Dassam falls and other to places like Johna and Hundru falls. On weekends these buses used to ferry passengers to favourite tourist destination at a nominal price of Rs 250.
According to officials of Tourism Department on occasions like Christmas and New Year where majority of people plan out for picnic or family outing on these spots, at those peak hours the buses use to ply on roads with limited passengers. When State Tourism Deputy Director Sunil Kumar Sinha was enquired the reason behind poor response of the tourist with a pause he replied, “I am not sure about the reason but may be the price would have been the reason behind its failure.” However, officials of JTDC feel that besides price buses’ sorry condition was also a major reason.
“The buses were not in proper condition as a result of which ferrying the passengers to different destination was becoming risky. The buses basic features like horn and brakes were not functioning properly, with the objective of protecting the passengers from any untoward incidents the department shut down the services,” said JTDC MD Sunil Kumar.
Meanwhile, Kumar has also shown hope in the direction of resuming the services back in near future as the department has written letter to the Government in which they have urged to provide fund for purchase of new Deluxe buses for the tourists. He said, “We want to resume the services and for this department is leaving no stone unturned.”