Photo: Prakhar Pandey
The recent agitation of the Haryana Roadways employees led to the State agreeing to suspend the issuance of new permits to private operators. However, it is probably a temporary ‘accommodation’ during this election season. The planned rollout thereafter would be as follows. To facilitate the commuting between Gurgaon and its surrounding areas, the Haryana government has decided to award more road permits on some of the busier routes. For Gurgaon District, the government would allocate ten higher fare permits on the Gurgaon-Pataudi route and eight each for the Gurgaon-Sohna and Gurgaon-Kosli routes, respectively. It is hoped that this initiative will lead to better development around Gurgaon. The entire scheme was recently cleared by the Haryana Cabinet, says Rohit Yadav, the new General Manager of Haryana Roadways in Gurgaon. Under the scheme, 3,519 permits will be issued to transportation firms registered in the State. Buses plying on the above mentioned routes would have to necessarily be fitted with GPS tracking systems, for better safety of passenger. Each of these buses will be thirty-seaters. The vehicles will be both of the AC (50%) as well as Non-AC variety. There will be eighteen modern Volvo buses. The government has decided to provide the drivers with identification badges. "The State is also contemplating efficient security arrangements within the buses as well as along the routes, especially keeping in mind women passengers. However, a few Women’s Special buses that had been introduced recently in the City have been withdrawn – reportedly due to a poor response (maybe due to their low frequency). The routes they were plying on were: Bus stand to Kendriya Vihar, Railway Station to HUDA City Centre, Bus Stand to Dundahera, HUDA City Centre to Badshahpur, and Bus Stand to Manesar. The State transport department wishes to accord priority to new routes, so as to open up areas that have remained unconnected to date. “The situation inside the City is not so bad, as the transport system (various options) is adequate. But it is the inter-district travel that has been suffering for want of an adequate number of buses," an official says. Some of the problems pertain to the road infrastructure itself. The government has decided to lay fresh roads on different routes for improving connectivity. The State department has also planned a host of bus stands and bus shelters, to enable a larger fleet of buses to ply across the State, and connect different areas to the model township of Gurgaon - which has fast emerged as a huge business and residential hub in Haryana.
Meanwhile, the Haryana Gaurav Bus Service, popularly known as the ‘aam aadmi ki khaas bus’, has started service. It has introduced ‘luxury’ facilities - like deluxe type 2x2 seats, FM radio, mobile charger, pneumatically operated door, and tinted glasses and curtains – but the fares are affordable. All these vehicles run on CNG and are environment friendly. Steps have also been taken to significantly upgrade passenger amenities at the bus stands. The government has also declared that new and innovative bus stands are being constructed with a ‘futuristic vision’. υ
“The bus travel experience has become more pleasant and comfortable,” says Dinanath Choudhury, who lives outside Gurgaon and comes in every day to work in one of the commercial hubs in the City. Rita Shaw, who daily commutes by bus from HUDA City Centre to Sohna Road, says, ”I am quite happy and satisfied, as there is no need to break the journey to my office; earlier, when I availed share-autos, I had to get down at Subhash Chowk,” she says.
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