Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC): Pink bus fleet reduced to 4 from 25

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) had to reduce the fleet of pink buses for women and senior citizens from 25 to 4 due to fewer takers from the target commuters. Women and senior citizens can travel free of cost in pink buses.

The Sarbananda Sonowal-led State Government launched a fleet of 25 pink buses in 2021 with free bus travel for women and senior citizens. However, the offer has not received the desired response from the target commuters (women and senior citizens). Allegations also do the rounds that the crew members of such buses have some attitudinal problems, and they refuse to stop the buses at many stops where other ASTC and private buses stop. Such buses even do not have criers to call the attention of passengers.

The moot question is: why are women and senior citizens reluctant to avail this special offer from the ASTC? In Guwahati, where city busses ply overloaded and charge high fares, travel by bus is not easy and safe for elderlies.

Meanwhile, ASTC issued a new timetable for the four pink buses that run on four routes – bus no 1: Khanapara - Jalukbari, bus no 2: Jalukbari-Khanapara, bus no 3: Bonda/Narengi-Jalukbari and bus no 4: Jalukbari-Bonda/Narengi. The notification further said that if the demand arises, the operational fleet may increase for the ease of travelling off the target commuters.

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