Alok Mishra
Patna: Bihar Government granting permission for resumption of inter-district public transport service from June 1, 2020, notwithstanding, there were very few buses and passengers at Patna’s Mithapur bus stand on Day 1. The bus stand wore deserted look on June 1. There were only few passengers searching for long distance buses. Some agents were seen luring passengers. Several long distance buses ply to different parts of the state and outside from Mithpur bus stand.
A Patna-Sitamarhi bound bus was parked at Mithapur bus stand. Its conductor Anil Sharma said that buses have started playing on
different routes including Patna-Sitamarhi, Patna-Darbhanga, Patna-Samastipur, Patna-Motihari, and Patna-Chhapra. Sharma rued that only 10-15 passengers had reached bus stand for their destinations so far.
Regarding less number of buses, he attributed it to very few passengers turning up at the bus stand. Things would improve in a day or two, he said, adding that they have not hiked the bus fare. Sharma said that he is following all rules of social distancing and added that the passengers’ hands were cleaned with sanitiser before allowing them to enter the bus.
Conductor of a Nawada bound bus Rajiv Kumar said that this is his first trip. He said that he saw four buses plying on Patna-Nawada route on June 1 morning. Regarding less number of buses, Rajiv said that most of the buses were stranded at different places as plying of buses was banned during lockdown period. He said that the staff of majority of buses were relaxing at their native villages. Drivers, cleaners,and conductors would soon join duties on their respective buses, he added.
Few auto-drivers, who were waiting for passengers at Mithapur bus stand, thanked the state government for allowing plying of buses. Though there are fewer passengers, it has given them a chance to earn money,they added.