Kolkata, Sep 4 (PTI) The West Bengal Transport Department on Friday deployed additional buses on several routes following disruption of rail services because of subsidence of tracks near Farakka in Murshidabad district.
The department has taken emergency measures to ensure that passengers do not face inconvenience due to the disruption of train services between Kolkata, Malda and Siliguri.
Transport Minister Arjun Singh told reporters that additional bus services had been introduced on several key routes to handle the rush of passengers.
“As many as 23 additional buses are being operated on the Kolkata-Siliguri route on Friday. In addition, an existing regular service has been extended from Malda to Siliguri,” he said.
Two additional buses each have been deployed on the Durgapur-Balurghat and Kolkata-Balurghat routes, while five bus services are operating between Malda and Kolkata.
For passengers travelling to North Bengal, special evening bus services have been introduced from Kolkata’s New Esplanade Bus Terminus to the Siliguri NJP Bus Terminus.
The special buses will depart at 5.30 pm, 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm, 8.30 pm, 9 pm and 9:30 pm.
The managing directors of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) and South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) have been directed to arrange additional buses on routes wherever required, depending on passenger demand and the situation.
The district magistrates concerned have also been instructed to coordinate with private bus operators and ensure that passengers are not charged unreasonable fares during the disruption.
If necessary, private buses may also be requisitioned on an emergency basis to augment passenger transport capacity.
“Passengers should not face inconvenience because of the disruption in rail services. We have immediately increased bus services on important routes and will deploy more buses wherever required,” Singh said.
“We are closely monitoring passenger demand and the situation. The NBSTC and SBSTC have been instructed to arrange additional services wherever necessary,” Singh said.
Train connectivity between north and south Bengal was affected on Thursday following land subsidence caused by heavy rain between New Farakka and Kalidanga railway stations. The railways cancelled several express trains following the incident. PTI SUS MNB
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