Wednesday, 21 June 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) will soon deploy 100 new buses to strengthen the public transport network in the mountainous areas of the State. These buses will be deployed in mountainous areas as per the requirement of the respective regions, said the general manager (Operations) of the corporation, Deepak Jain. He told The Pioneer that the corporation aims to provide better Roadways bus services in the mountainous areas for which it will soon introduce 100 new buses, some of which will also replace the old buses. He said that the initial plan is to deploy normal buses for now. He said that this plan is still in its initial stage and is expected to take a few months to be executed at the ground level.
Jain also talked about the causes of the operation of fewer Roadways buses in mountainous areas. He said that there is usually a scattered population in the mountainous areas which leads to a low passenger count which results in losses to the corporation. He said, “It takes at least 1.5 times the usual budget to operate a Roadways bus in mountainous areas considering various factors including low passenger count in less populated areas.
The operation of buses is also time restricted there as drivers cannot be permitted to drive buses during night time unlike in the plane areas but the UTC has to make full payment to them.” He said that such factors make it less feasible to operate buses in the mountainous areas of the State but the corporation is working and planning on strengthening public transport connectivity there. Regarding the frequent accidents of Roadways buses in recent times he said that the corporation takes all possible measures to prevent them. “We have also been facilitating regular counselling sessions for Roadways drivers to ensure they drive responsibly on their respective routes,” added Jain.
