ANJALI YADAV/Dehradun
Dehradun’s public transport operators are bearing the brunt of the recent string of murders which occurred in Paltan Bazaar, Rajpur Road and Tibetan Market, with a noticeable drop in passenger numbers and earnings.
Auto-rickshaw drivers, cab operators and city bus staff say in unison that fewer passengers are travelling, particularly during the evening hours. A bus driver, Ashok Kumar stated while speaking to this correspondent that their earnings have declined over the past few weeks with women, in particular, shying away from public transport.
An auto driver Ramesh Kumar, who operates near the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), said that his daily income has fallen from around Rs 1,200–1,500 to less than Rs 800. “The spike in crimes in the city is deterring people lately. This trend has been visible since early February, after a 23-year-old girl, Gunjan, was murdered in the Paltan Bazaar,” he said, citing reduced footfall of women after dusk.
Mohit Sharma, a driver who works for a private ride-hailing service, reported a decline in bookings throughout the day. “We remain idle for long stretches of time,” he said, pointing to shrinking demand in the city. Sharma said that the bookings from the Rapido app used to keep him busy throughout the day. However, he now relies on Ola, Uber and Rapido combined to make nearly 70 per cent of what he was earning until January.
A city bus driver Suresh Rawat said that even peak-hour occupancy has declined. “Buses are not as full as before. Parents are hesitant to let children travel alone,” he said.
A college student, Priya Verma, who would travel by city bus, said that she avoids commuting after 7 PM and now prefers the college pick-up and drop-off bus. A daily commuter Anil Gupta said that he has switched to his four-wheeler until “visible police patrolling improves.”
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Pramendra Dobal, when asked about public concern over rising crime, said that the police were conducting continuous patrolling and verification drives across the city and requested citizens to maintain trust in the police.
Dehradun police said that they have been carrying out surprise checks at various entry and exit points across the capital.d
The transport operators have called for a stronger visible police presence at bus stops and key transport hubs, saying that restoring public confidence is essential to stabilise ridership and safeguard livelihoods.
